/rangk"shift'/ , Ling.
v.t.
1. (in systemic linguistics) to use a unit as a constituent of another unit of the same or lower rank on the rank scale, as in using the phrase next door within the phrase the boy next door or the clause that you met yesterday within the phrase the girl that you met yesterday.
n.
2. the process of rankshifting.
[ 1960-65; RANK 1 + SHIFT ]