I. ˈshaŋk, -aiŋk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English shanke, from Old English scanca; akin to Middle Low German schenke leg, shank, Swedish skank leg, shank, Old Norse skakkr crooked, askew, Greek skazein to limp, and perhaps Sanskrit sakthi thigh
1.
a. : the lower part of the leg:
(1) : the part between the knee and the ankle in man
(2) : the corresponding part in various other vertebrates ; specifically : the part between the fetlock and the joint above
(3) : tarsometatarsus
(4) : tibia
b. : the entire leg in man
sat down to rest his weary shanks
c. : a cut of beef, veal, mutton, or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg : shin — see beef illustration, lamb illustration
d. : the part of a hide that comes from the leg of an animal
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 ; specifically : the stalk to which an ear of Indian corn is attached
c. : the part of an anchor that is between the ring and the crown — see anchor illustration
d. : the stem of a goblet or other glass with a stem
e. : the part of a fishhook that is between the eye and the bend
f. : the smooth part of a screw between the thread and the head
g. : the part of a key that is between the handle and the bit
h.
(1) : the stem of a tobacco pipe
(2) : the part of a tobacco pipe that is between the stem and the bowl
i. : the tang of a hoe, rake, knife, or other instrument with a handle
j. : each of the two parts of a pair of scissors between the joint and the bows
k.
(1) : the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep — see shoe illustration
(2) : shankpiece
3.
a. Scotland : stocking
b. shanks plural , dialect : leggings
4. chiefly Scotland : a ridge joining a hill to the plain
5. : a part of an object by which it can be attached: as
a.
(1) : a projection (as a loop or an eye) on the back of a solid button by which it is attached to the cloth
(2) : a short bar of thread that holds a sewn button away from the cloth so that it can be buttoned and unbuttoned easily
b. : the projecting part of a knob handle that contains the spindle socket
c. : the end (as of a drill, milling cutter, or lathe center) that is gripped in a chuck
6. : body I 10a
7. : the part of a finger ring that encircles the finger excluding the bezel and engraving
8.
a. : a short rope or chain
b. : a tie strap of a halter
9. : the space between two channels of the Doric triglyph
10.
a. : the latter part of a period of time
along in the shank of the afternoon — J.F.Dobie
b. : the early or main part of a period of time
don't go yet; it is just the shank of the evening — J.B.Weston
11.
a. : a long-handled ladle for molten metal for use by two or more men
b. : a handle by which a ladle of molten metal can be carried by one or more men
12. : the curved iron bar that connects a cultivator shovel to the beam
13. : a device for locking inserted teeth in a circular saw
14.
[ shank (II) ]
: an act or instance of shanking a golf ball
15. slang : knife
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. chiefly Scotland : to go on foot : walk
2. : to decay at the footstalk ; specifically : to suffer from shanking
transitive verb
1. chiefly Scotland
a. : to cause to go on foot
b. : to traverse on foot
2. : to form a shank on
3. : to hit (a golf ball) with the extreme heel of the club so that the ball goes sharply to the right
4. : to cut (a person) deeply with a knife