shank

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates
b
: leg
c
: a cut of beef, veal, mutton, or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg : shin see beef illustration
2
: a straight narrow usually essential part of an object: such as
a
: the straight part of a nail or pin
b
: a straight part of a plant : stem, stalk
c
: the part of an anchor between the ring and the crown see anchor illustration
d
: the part of a fishhook between the eye and the bend
e
: the part of a key between the handle and the bit
f
: the stem of a tobacco pipe or the part between the stem and the bowl
h(1)
: the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep
(2)
3
: a part of an object by which it can be attached: such as
a(1)
: a projection on the back of a solid button
(2)
: a short stem of thread that holds a sewn button away from the cloth
b
: the end (as of a drill bit) that is gripped in a chuck
4
a
: the latter part of a period of time
b
: the early or main part of a period of time
11 p.m. on the East coast is merely the shank of the evening on the West coast
5
slang : an often homemade knife
shanked adjective

shank

2 of 2

verb

shanked; shanking; shanks

transitive verb

: to hit (a golf ball or shot) with the extreme heel of the club so that the ball goes off in an unintended direction
also : to kick (a football) in an unintended direction

Examples of shank in a Sentence

Noun the shank of a drill bit slashed at the prison guard with a shank he had secretly made from a scrap of metal
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Other dishes come from Federici family recipes, including milanese con osso (a classic veal shank stew), a delicate vitello tonnato and the decadent layers of artichokes and potatoes in the filet millefeuille, a classic of Roman cuisine. Ann Abel, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 Expect fresh, hearty delicacies from the kitchen — lamb shank, scallops, a good portion of the sourdough Knut bread, named after Gustav’s grandfather, and homemade butter. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
Past presidential guests were known for hitting the links, particularly Bill Clinton who, in November 1996, shanked a ball into the backyard of a home on the 17th hole of the Adobe course. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024 Still, Fritz approached the net on break point and shanked a forehand volley, and it was tied at 5-all. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shank 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English shanke, from Old English scanca; akin to Old Norse skakkr crooked, Greek skazein to limp

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shank was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shank

Cite this Entry

“Shank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shank. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

shank

noun
ˈshaŋk
1
a
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in human beings or a similar part in various other vertebrates
b
: a cut of meat (as beef or lamb) from usually the upper part of a leg
2
a
: the straight shaft (as of a nail, pin, or fishhook)
b
: the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep
3
: a part of a tool that connects the acting part with a part by which it is held or moved
the shank of a drill bit
the shank of a key
4
: a part of something by which it can be attached: as
a
: a part that sticks out on the back of a solid button
b
: a short stem of thread that holds a sewn button away from the cloth
shanked
ˈshaŋ(k)t
adjective

Medical Definition

shank

noun
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or a corresponding part in other vertebrates

More from Merriam-Webster on shank

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