shank
This term primarily describes a narrow, straight structural support or a limb. In mechanical contexts, it refers to the central shaft of a tool, while in anatomy, it specifically denotes the lower leg. The word carries a strong sense of rigidity and linear strength.
In slang and sports, the word takes on a negative or violent connotation. In golf, it describes a specific technical failure where the ball is hit off the shaft. In prison jargon, it refers to a crude, improvised weapon used for stabbing, shifting the meaning from a structural support to a sharp, dangerous instrument.
Meanings
To stab someone with a makeshift knife, typically within a prison environment.
The inmate was accused of attempting to shank a guard during the riot.
To hit a golf ball with the narrow part of the club head rather than the face.
She accidentally shanked her drive into the rough.
A makeshift knife, typically one fashioned from a sharpened piece of metal or plastic, often used in prisons.
The guard discovered a hidden shank during the cell search.
The part of a leg between the knee and the ankle.
The athlete suffered a deep bruise on the shank of his left leg.
A cut of meat from the lower part of the leg of an animal, such as a lamb or calf.
The chef slow-cooked the lamb shanks in a red wine reduction.
The straight part of a tool or instrument between the handle and the working end.
The screwdriver has a steel shank that resists bending.
The straight part of a nail, bolt, or key that connects the head to the point or blade.
The bolt was designed with a long shank to reach the inner mounting bracket.