Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » shank

shank

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The shank is the part of the leg between the knee and ankle or the equivalent in animals.

(noun)

An example of a shank is a leg of lamb.

Shank is defined as to decay and fall off, or to poorly hit a golf ball by hitting it with the club heel, or to hit or kick a soccer ball in an unintended direction.

(verb)

An example of shank is for a fruit to rot and fall off the tree.
An example of shank is to kick a soccer ball into the net of one's own team.

See shank in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the lower part of the leg; part between the knee and ankle in humans or a part like this in animals
the whole leg
a cut of meat from the leg of an animal
a straight, narrow part between other parts, as
1. the part of a tool or instrument between the handle and the working part; shaft
2. the part of a tobacco pipe between the bowl and the stem
3. the part of an anchor between the crown and the ring
4. the narrow part of a shoe sole in front of the heel and beneath the instep
a projection or wire loop on some buttons by which they are sewn to fabric
the whole of a piece of type exclusive of the printing surface; body
Bot. footstalk

Origin: ME shanke < OE scanca, akin to Ger schenkel, thigh < IE base *(s)keng-, to limp > Gr skazein, Ger hinken

intransitive verb

Bot. to decay and fall off a diseased footstalk: said of a flower

transitive verb

Golf to hit (the ball) poorly by striking it with the heel of the club
Sports to hit or kick in an unintended direction

See shank in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.
b. A corresponding part in other vertebrates.
a. The whole leg of a human.
b. A leg or leglike part.
A cut of meat from the leg of a steer, calf, sheep, or lamb.
The long narrow part of a nail or pin.
A stem, stalk, or similar part.
Nautical The stem of an anchor.
The long shaft of a fishhook.
The part of a tobacco pipe between the bowl and stem.
The shaft of a key.
The narrow section of the handle of a spoon.
Printing The section of a body of type between the shoulder and the foot.
a. The narrow part of the sole of a shoe under the instep.
b. A piece of material, such as metal, that is used to reinforce or shape this part of a shoe.
A projection, such as a ring, on the back of a button by which it is sewn to cloth.
a. See tang¹.
b. The part of a tool, such as a drill, that connects the functioning head to the handle.
a. The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.
b. The early or primary part of a period of time: the shank of the evening.