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. Skink, v.].

The part of the leg from the knee to the foot; the shin; the shin bone; also, the whole leg. [1913 Webster]
"His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank." [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
The space between two channels of the Doric triglyph. Gwilt. [1913 Webster]
A large ladle for molten metal, fitted with long bars for handling it. [1913 Webster]
The body of a type. [1913 Webster]
The part of the sole beneath the instep connecting the broader front part with the heel. [1913 Webster]
A wading bird with long legs; as, the green-legged shank, or knot; the yellow shank, or tattler; -- called also shanks. [1913 Webster]
Flat-nosed pliers, used by opticians for nipping off the edges of pieces of glass to make them round. [1913 Webster]

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, v. i.

To fall off, as a leaf, flower, or capsule, on account of disease affecting the supporting footstalk; -- usually followed by off. Darwin. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

shank, n.
1 a the leg. b the lower part of the leg; the leg from knee to ankle. c the shin-bone.
2 the lower part of an animal's foreleg, esp. as a cut of meat.
3 a shaft or stem.
4 a the long narrow part of a tool etc. joining the handle to the working end. b the stem of a key, spoon, anchor, etc. c the straight part of a nail or fish-hook.
5 the narrow middle of the sole of a shoe.

Idiom

shanks's mare (or pony) one's own legs as a means of conveyance.

Derivative

shanked adj. (also in comb.).

Etymology

OE sceanca f. WG

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THESAURUS

shank

Chateaubriand, ankle, ascender, back, bastard type, bayonet legs, beard, belly, bevel, black letter, blade roast, body, bowlegs, breast, brisket, calf, cap, capital, case, chuck, chuck roast, clod, cnemis, cold cuts, counter, descender, drumstick, em, en, face, fat-faced type, feet, filet mignon, flank, font, foreleg, gamb, gambrel, gigot, groove, ham, hind leg, hock, italic, jamb, knee, knuckle, leg, letter, ligature, limb, logotype, loin, lower case, majuscule, minuscule, nick, pale, palisade, peg, pi, pica, picket, pile, plate, plate piece, podite, point, popliteal space, pot roast, print, rack, rib roast, ribs, roast, rolled roast, roman, round, rump, rump roast, saddle, sans serif, scissor-legs, script, shin, short ribs, shoulder, shoulder clod, sirloin, small cap, small capital, spile, stake, stamp, stem, stems, stumps, tarsus, tenderloin, trotters, type, type body, type class, type lice, typecase, typeface, typefounders, typefoundry, upper case

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ROGET THESAURUS

shank

Printing

N printing, block printing, type-printing, plate printing, (engraving), the press, composition, print, letterpress, text, context, note, page, column, typography, stereotype, electrotype, aprotype, type, black letter, font, fount, pi, pie, capitals, brevier, bourgeois, pica boldface, capitals, caps, catchword, composing-frame, composing room, composing rule, composing stand, composing stick, italics, justification, linotype, live matter, logotype, lower case, upper case, make-up, matrix, matter, monotype, 4-1/2 point, 5 point, 5-1/2 point, 6 point, 7 point, 8 point, press room, press work, reglet, roman, running head, running title, scale, serif, shank, sheet work, shoulder, signature, slug, underlay, folio, copy, impression, pull, proof, revise, author's proof, galley proof, press proof, press revise, printer, compositor, reader, printer's devil copyholder, printed, in type, typographical, solid in galleys.

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

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