shank

I. noun Etymology: Middle English shanke, from Old English scanca; akin to Old Norse skakkr crooked, Greek skazein to limp Date: before 12th century 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: 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 g. tang 1 h. (1) the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep (2) shankpiece 3. a part of an object by which it can be attached: 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 II. transitive verb Date: 1927 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