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: such as
a
: the straight part of a nail or pin
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
h(1)
: the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep
(2)
3
: a part of an object by which it can be attached: such 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; shanking; shanks
: 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
Synonyms
Examples of shank in a Sentence
Noun
the shank of a drill bit
slashed at the prison guard with a shank he had secretly made from a scrap of metal
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2024
The shoes feature an all-over sandy suede, with gold and jade accents on the shank plate and outsole.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for shank 
Noun
Press the wraps against the pointer finger of the hand pinching the shank to stop them from unraveling.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2024
The shoes feature an all-over sandy suede, with gold and jade accents on the shank plate and outsole.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for shank
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shank.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shank
Cite this Entry
“Shank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shank. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
shank
noun
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or a corresponding part in other vertebrates
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