SHANK • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Shank

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/ʃæŋk/ Listen

noun

Shank n. (Zool.) See Chank.

Shank n.

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."

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.

(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.

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.

(Zool.) 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.

verb

Shank v. i. To fall off, as a leaf, flower, or capsule, on account of disease affecting the supporting footstalk; usually followed by off.

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Etymology of 'Shank'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Shank" Quotes from Famous Books

... a tray and picked up another. It had a long shank and was easily manipulated because of the catch that permitted the movement of its head, as ...

— The Winning Clue • James Hay, Jr.

... quite in the dark as to what manner of gear it was. But I ascertained later on that it was good and strong enough to hold any deep sea fish, and the hook was of the right sort—a six-inch flatted, with curved shank, and swivel mounted on to three feet of fine twisted steel seizing wire. My obstinate friend had a keen eye, even when he was most disparaging in his remarks, and had copied my La'heu tackle most successfully, although he ...

— The Call Of The South - 1908 • Louis Becke

... a great deal in other countries. Sometimes the insulator is an iron hook set into a glass screw, which is inserted into a hole in a telegraph bracket. Sometimes a hook is caused to depend from the interior of an inverted cup and the space between the shank of the hook and cup is filled with ...

— The Standard Electrical Dictionary - A Popular Dictionary of Words and Terms Used in the Practice - of Electrical Engineering • T. O'Conor Slone

... ask," said Sally, wiping her eyes with her apron. "Why, thaa looked a'most queer enough to mak' a besom-shank laugh; thaa's made my ...

— Little Abe - Or, The Bishop of Berry Brow • F. Jewell

... reached the welcome Atbara within two miles of my head-quarters. My men made a rush to the river, and threw themselves into the water, as all were more or less exhausted by the intense heat of the long day's work after a restless night. I took a good drink through my gazelle shank-bone, which I wear suspended from my neck for that purpose, and I went on alone, leaving my bathing party to refresh themselves. I reached the tent a little after 4 P.M. after more than ten hours' continual walking in the burning sun. I felt almost ...

— The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia • Samuel W. Baker

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