Collins English-English Dictionary

shank [ʃæŋk]

1. 1. n [anatomy] the shin

2. 2. n the corresponding part of the leg in vertebrates other than man

3. 3. n a cut of meat from the top part of an animal's shank

4. 4. n the main part of a tool, between the working part and the handle

5. 5. n the part of a bolt between the thread and the head

6. 6. n the cylindrical part of a bit by which it is held in the drill

7. 7. n the ring or stem on the back of some buttons

8. 8. n the stem or long narrow part of a key, anchor, hook, spoon handle, nail, pin, etc

9. 9. n the band of a ring as distinguished from the setting

10. 10. n the part of a shoe connecting the wide part of the sole with the heel

11. 11. n the metal or leather piece used for this

12. 12. n [printing] the body of a piece of type, between the shoulder and the foot

13. 13. n [engineering] a ladle used for molten metal

14. 14. n another word for crook

15. 15. vi. [music] [intr] (of fruits, roots, etc) to show disease symptoms, esp discoloration

16. 16. vt. [tr] [golf] to mishit (the ball) with the foot of the shaft rather than the face of the club

17. 17. vt. [Etymology] Old English scanca; related to Old Frisian schanke, Middle Low German schenke, Danish, Swedish skank leg