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shank - 11 dictionary results

shank

  [shangk]
Use shank in a Sentence
–noun
1. Anatomy. the part of the lower limb in humans between the knee and the ankle; leg.
2. a corresponding or analogous part in certain animals.
3. the lower limb in humans, including both the leg and the thigh.
4. a cut of meat from the top part of the front (foreshank) or back (hind shank) leg of an animal.
5. a narrow part of various devices, as a tool or bolt, connecting the end by which the object is held or moved with the end that acts upon another object.
6. a straight, usually narrow, shaftlike part of various objects connecting two more important or complex parts, as the stem of a pipe.
7. a knob, small projection, or end of a device for attaching to another object, as a small knob on the back of a solid button, or the end of a drill for gripping in a shaft.
8. the long, straight part of an anchor connecting the crown and the ring.
9. the straight part of a fishhook away from the bent part or prong.
10. Music. crook 1 (def. 8).
11. Informal.
a. the early part of a period of time: It was just the shank of the evening when the party began.
b. the latter part of a period of time: They didn't get started until the shank of the morning.
12. the narrow part of the sole of a shoe, lying beneath the instep.
13. shankpiece.
14. Printing. the body of a type, between the shoulder and the foot.
15. Golf. a shot veering sharply to the right after being hit with the base of a club shaft.
16. the part of a phonograph stylus or needle on which the diamond or sapphire tip is mounted.
17. Jewelry. the part of a ring that surrounds the finger; hoop.
–verb (used with object)
18. Golf. to hit (a golf ball) with the base of the shaft of a club just above the club head, causing the ball to go off sharply to the right.
–verb (used without object)
19. Chiefly Scot. to travel on foot. Compare shanks' mare.
—Idiom
20. shank of the evening, the main or best part of the evening: Don't leave yet—it's just the shank of the evening.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME (n.); OE sc(e)anca; c. LG schanke leg, thigh; akin to G Schenkel thigh, Schinken ham

crook

1  [krook]
–noun
1. a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc.; hook.
2. the hooked part of anything.
3. an instrument or implement having a bent or curved part, as a shepherd's staff hooked at one end or the crosier of a bishop or abbot.
4. a dishonest person, esp. a sharper, swindler, or thief.
5. a bend, turn, or curve: a crook in the road.
6. the act of crooking or bending.
7. a pothook.
8. Also called shank. a device on some musical wind instruments for changing the pitch, consisting of a piece of tubing inserted into the main tube.
–verb (used with object)
9. to bend; curve; make a crook in.
10. Slang. to steal, cheat, or swindle: She crooked a ring from that shop.
–verb (used without object)
11. to bend; curve.
Origin:
1125–75; ME crok(e) < ON krāka hook

shank⋅piece

  [shangk-pees]
–noun
a piece of metal or fiber for giving form to the shank of a shoe.
Also called shank.

Origin:
1880–85; shank + piece
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shank
shank   (shāngk)   
n.  
    1. The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.
    2. A corresponding part in other vertebrates.
    3. The whole leg of a human.
    4. A leg or leglike part.
    5. The narrow part of the sole of a shoe under the instep.
    6. A piece of material, such as metal, that is used to reinforce or shape this part of a shoe.
    7. See tang1.
    8. The part of a tool, such as a drill, that connects the functioning head to the handle.
    9. The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.
    10. The early or primary part of a period of time: the shank of the evening.
    1. The whole leg of a human.
    2. A leg or leglike part.
    3. The narrow part of the sole of a shoe under the instep.
    4. A piece of material, such as metal, that is used to reinforce or shape this part of a shoe.
    5. See tang1.
    6. The part of a tool, such as a drill, that connects the functioning head to the handle.
    7. The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.
    8. The early or primary part of a period of time: the shank of the evening.
  3. A cut of meat from the leg of a steer, calf, sheep, or lamb.
  4. The long narrow part of a nail or pin.
  5. A stem, stalk, or similar part.
  6. Nautical The stem of an anchor.
  7. The long shaft of a fishhook.
  8. The part of a tobacco pipe between the bowl and stem.
  9. The shaft of a key.
  10. The narrow section of the handle of a spoon.
  11. Printing The section of a body of type between the shoulder and the foot.
    1. The narrow part of the sole of a shoe under the instep.
    2. A piece of material, such as metal, that is used to reinforce or shape this part of a shoe.
    3. See tang1.
    4. The part of a tool, such as a drill, that connects the functioning head to the handle.
    5. The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.
    6. The early or primary part of a period of time: the shank of the evening.
  13. A projection, such as a ring, on the back of a button by which it is sewn to cloth.
    1. See tang1.
    2. The part of a tool, such as a drill, that connects the functioning head to the handle.
    3. The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.
    4. The early or primary part of a period of time: the shank of the evening.
    1. The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.
    2. The early or primary part of a period of time: the shank of the evening.
tr.v.   shanked, shank·ing, shanks Sports
To hit (a golf ball) with the heel of the club, causing the ball to veer in the wrong direction.

[Middle English shanke, from Old English sceanca.]
shanked adj.
tang 1   (tāng)   
n.  
  1. A distinctively sharp taste, flavor, or odor, as that of orange juice. See Synonyms at taste.
  2. A distinctive quality that adds piquancy.
  3. A trace, hint, or smattering.
  4. A sharp point, tongue, or prong.
  5. A projection by which a tool, such as a chisel or knife, is attached to its handle or stock. Also called shank.
  6. A surgeonfish.
tr.v.   tanged, tang·ing, tangs
  1. To furnish with a tang.
  2. To give a tang to.

[Middle English tange, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tangi, point, sting.]
tang'i·ness n., tang'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Shank

Shank\, n. (Zo["o]l.) See Chank.

Shank

Shank\, n. [OE. shanke, schanke, schonke, AS. scanca, sceanca, sconca, sceonca; akin to D. schonk a bone, G. schenkel thigh, shank, schinken ham, OHG. scincha shank, Dan. & Sw. skank. [root]161. Cf. Skink, v.]

1. The part of the leg from the knee to the foot; the shin; the shin bone; also, the whole leg.

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank. --Shak.

2. Hence, that part of an instrument, tool, or other thing, which connects the acting part with a handle or other part, by which it is held or moved. Specifically: (a) That part of a key which is between the bow and the part which enters the wards of the lock. (b) The middle part of an anchor, or that part which is between the ring and the arms. See Illustr. of Anchor. (c) That part of a hoe, rake, knife, or the like, by which it is secured to a handle. (d) A loop forming an eye to a button.

3. (Arch.) The space between two channels of the Doric triglyph. --Gwilt.

4. (Founding) A large ladle for molten metal, fitted with long bars for handling it.

5. (Print.) The body of a type.

6. (Shoemaking) The part of the sole beneath the instep connecting the broader front part with the heel.

7. (Zo["o]l.) A wading bird with long legs; as, the green-legged shank, or knot; the yellow shank, or tattler; -- called also shanks.

8. pl. Flat-nosed pliers, used by opticians for nipping off the edges of pieces of glass to make them round.

Shank painter (Naut.), a short rope or chain which holds the shank of an anchor against the side of a vessel when it is secured for a voyage.

To ride shank's mare, to go on foot; to walk.

Shank

Shank\, v. i. To fall off, as a leaf, flower, or capsule, on account of disease affecting the supporting footstalk; -- usually followed by off. --Darwin.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : shank
Spanish: espinilla,
German: der Unterschenkel,
Japanese: すね
More Translations »

shank 
O.E. sceanca "leg, shank, shinbone," from P.Gmc. *skankon- (cf. M.L.G. schenke, Ger. schenkel "shank, leg"), perhaps lit. "that which bends," from PIE base *skeng- "crooked" (cf. O.N. skakkr "wry, distorted," Gk. skazein "to limp"). Specifically, the part of the leg from the knee to the ankle. Shank's mare "one's own legs as a means of transportation" is attested from 1774. The verb, originally in golf, meaning "to strike (the ball) with the heel of the club" is recorded from 1927.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: shank
Pronunciation: 'sha[ng]k
Function: noun
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or a corresponding part in othervertebrates
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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shank (shāngk)
n.
The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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