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Shank   /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.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Shank" Quotes from Famous Books



... wise Saws and modern Instances; And so he plays his Part. The sixth Age shifts Into the lean and slipper'd Pantaloon, With Spectacles on Nose, and Pouch on Side; His youthful Hose, well sav'd, a world too wide For his shrunk Shank; and his big manly Voice Turning again tow'rd childish treble Pipes, And Whistles in his Sound. Last Scene of all, That ends this strange eventful History, Is second Childishness and meer Oblivion, Sans Teeth, sans Eyes, ...
— Some Account of the Life of Mr. William Shakespear (1709) • Nicholas Rowe
... and that he would be welcome to a seat at the board, he signified a desire to be shown to his room, so that he could wash and make himself presentable. In response to an enquiry about his horse, he intimated that that animal for the present consisted of Shank's mare; that he had ridden up from town with Squire Harrington, and dismounted at that gentleman's gate. "The Squire offered to drive me on as far as here," he added; "but as it was only a short walk I ...
— The Gerrard Street Mystery and Other Weird Tales • John Charles Dent
... take a piece of stout cord about 2 ft. long, pass one end through the 1/16-in. hole and wind it on the small part of the top in the usual way, starting at the bottom and winding upward. When the shank is covered, set the top in the 3/4-in. hole. Take hold of the handle with the left hand and the end of the cord with the right hand, give a good quick pull on the cord and the top will jump clear of the handle and spin vigorously. —Contributed by J.F. ...
— The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 - 700 Things For Boys To Do • Popular Mechanics
... its ship, that anchor is "lost." The honest, rough piece of iron, so simple in appearance, has more parts than the human body has limbs: the ring, the stock, the crown, the flukes, the palms, the shank. All this, according to the journalist, is "cast" when a ship arriving at an anchorage is ...
— The Mirror of the Sea • Joseph Conrad
... the shank of the afternoon. The sun, rayless, round, blue-white, lagged away toward the west, seeming to sway in high heaven as Nissr took her long dips with the grace and swiftness of a flying falcon. Some time later the cloud-masses thinned and broke ...
— The Flying Legion • George Allan England


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