How Do You Spell SHANK?

Pronunciation: [ʃˈaŋk] (IPA)

The word "shank" is spelled with the letters "sh," which represents the voiceless postalveolar fricative sound /ʃ/. The vowel sound is represented by the letter "a," which is pronounced as the short /æ/ sound. The consonant sound "nk" is pronounced as /ŋk/. Therefore, the IPA phonetic transcription of the word "shank" is /ʃæŋk/. This word can be used to refer to the lower part of a leg, especially between the knee and ankle, or the slender part of certain instruments such as a key or a tool handle.

SHANK Meaning and Definition

  1. Shank can be defined as a noun with multiple meanings depending on the context. One common meaning of shank refers to the lower part of the leg, specifically the portion between the knee and ankle. In human anatomy, the shank typically refers to the tibia or fibula bones, which are the long bones supporting the lower limb. In culinary terms, the shank denotes a cut of meat from the lower leg of an animal, known for its tendons and connective tissue that impart flavor and richness when cooked slowly.

    Shank is also used as a verb, meaning to strike or hit forcefully with a sharp object, such as a knife or blade. This action often involves stabbing someone or something using the pointed end or sharp edge of a weapon. In this sense, shank is associated with violence or criminal activities.

    Additionally, shank can refer to a makeshift or improvised object, typically crafted within confined spaces such as prisons. A shank in this context is a homemade knife or weapon, often made from common materials found in the immediate environment, used for self-defense or offensive purposes.

    Furthermore, shank has a colloquial meaning related to golf. It pertains to a poor or errant shot, where the golfer hits the ball with the heel of the club, resulting in the ball veering off in an unintended direction.

    Overall, shank encompasses various meanings across different domains, encompassing anatomy, culinary, violent actions with sharp objects, improvised weapons, and golf terminology.

  2. The tibia, the shin, the leg.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. • The leg from the knee to the ankle, or the large bone of that part; the handle or long part of any instrument; in arch., the plain space between the two channels of the Doric triglyph.
    • To sink or excavate a pit or shaft, as being the shank to the mine.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for SHANK

Etymology of SHANK

The word "shank" primarily has two distinct etymological origins, depending on the context in which it is used.

1. As a noun referring to a part of the body or a utensil:

The noun "shank", referring to parts of the body or utensils, comes from Old English "sceanca". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word *skankōną, meaning "leg". This word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse "skakkr" and Old High German "scanca".

2. As a noun referring to a prison-made weapon:

The noun "shank", when used to describe a makeshift weapon used in prisons, has a different origin. It derived from the verb "shank", which means "to stab". This verb originated in the 19th century and was a slang term for "stab" or "poke".

Idioms with the word SHANK

  • shank it The idiom "shank it" refers to making a poor or errant shot or kick in sports, particularly in golf or soccer (football). It typically implies that the ball or intended target was struck poorly, resulting in a weak or inaccurate shot.
  • shank of the evening
  • shank's mare The idiom "shank's mare" refers to traveling on foot or by walking. It is a humorous or old-fashioned way to describe walking or going somewhere on foot rather than using other modes of transportation.
  • by shank's mare "By shank's mare" is an old-fashioned idiom that refers to walking or traveling on foot, often used when someone does not have access to other modes of transportation.

Similar spelling words for SHANK

Plural form of SHANK is SHANKS

Conjugate verb Shank

CONDITIONAL

I would shank
you would shank
he/she/it would shank
we would shank
they would shank

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be shanking
you would be shanking
he/she/it would be shanking
we would be shanking
they would be shanking

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have shank
you would have shank
he/she/it would have shank
we would have shank
they would have shank

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been shanking
you would have been shanking
he/she/it would have been shanking
we would have been shanking
they would have been shanking

FUTURE

I will shank
you will shank
he/she/it will shank
we will shank
they will shank

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be shanking
you will be shanking
he/she/it will be shanking
we will be shanking
they will be shanking

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have shanked
you will have shanked
he/she/it will have shanked
we will have shanked
they will have shanked

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been shanking
you will have been shanking
he/she/it will have been shanking
we will have been shanking
they will have been shanking

IMPERATIVE

you shank
we let´s shank

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to shank

PAST

I shanked
you shanked
he/she/it shanked
we shanked
they shanked

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was shanking
you were shanking
he/she/it was shanking
we were shanking
they were shanking

PAST PARTICIPLE

shanked

PAST PERFECT

I had shanked
you had shanked
he/she/it had shanked
we had shanked
they had shanked

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been shanking
you had been shanking
he/she/it had been shanking
we had been shanking
they had been shanking

PRESENT

I shank
you shank
he/she/it shanks
we shank
they shank

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am shanking
you are shanking
he/she/it is shanking
we are shanking
they are shanking

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

shanking

PRESENT PERFECT

I have shanked
you have shanked
he/she/it has shanked
we have shanked
they have shanked

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been shanking
you have been shanking
he/she/it has been shanking
we have been shanking
they have been shanking

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