I. ˈshaŋk noun
Etymology: Middle English shanke, from Old English scanca; akin to Old Norse skakkr crooked, Greek skazein to limp
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates
b. : leg
c. : a cut of beef, veal, mutton, or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg : shin — see beef illustration
2. : a straight narrow usually essential part of an object: as
a. : the straight part of a nail or pin
b. : a straight part of a plant : stem , stalk
c. : the part of an anchor between the ring and the crown — see anchor illustration
d. : the part of a fishhook between the eye and the bend
e. : the part of a key between the handle and the bit
f. : the stem of a tobacco pipe or the part between the stem and the bowl
g. : tang 1
h.
(1) : the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep
(2) : shankpiece
3. : a part of an object by which it can be attached: as
a.
(1) : a projection on the back of a solid button
(2) : a short stem of thread that holds a sewn button away from the cloth
b. : the end (as of a drill bit) that is gripped in a chuck
4.
a. : the latter part of a period of time
b. : the early or main part of a period of time
11 p.m. on the East coast is merely the shank of the evening on the West coast
5. slang : an often homemade knife
• shanked ˈshaŋ(k)t adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 1927
: to hit (a golf ball or shot) with the extreme heel of the club so that the ball goes off in an unintended direction ; also : to kick (a football) in an unintended direction