Shank slang | Learn English (2024)

Shank slang | Learn English (1)

Jeanie

HiPlease advise.Is the word "shank" a slang word? What does the word mean?

1 Answer

1 from verified tutors

Oldest first

Hi Jeanie,

I realise that this question was asked some time ago, but hope I can still help you.

The word "shank" is used in a prison sense. It is a verb meaning to stab someone with a home-made implement. You could use it as a noun as well, which is when it would refer to a shank - a home-made weapon.Examples could include;

  1. He made a shank whilst in prison.
  2. She was shanked in the shower.
  3. Be careful what you say to him, he will shank you if you cross him!

In pop culture, the movie and novel series "The Maze Runner" used the word "shank" in a different sense. In this context it means "someone who is crazy/mentally unstable".

I hope this is helpful.Ari

The answer is

:

Shank slang | Learn English (3)

Todd

Also a term used in golfing. "Unintentional slice while hitting the ball long distances."

Shank slang | Learn English (4)

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Shank slang | Learn English (2024)

FAQs

What does "shank" mean in slang? ›

Slang. to cut or stab (someone) with a shank; shiv. Slang. to undermine or discredit (someone) in a sneaky manner, as with innuendo, rumor, accusation, or the like.

What is the meaning of shank in English? ›

shank. noun. ˈshaŋk. : the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or a corresponding part in other vertebrates.

What does shank mean in UK drill? ›

Scram – gun. Scrum – attractive female, sex. Shank – knife.

Why is it called a shank? ›

"leg of a human or animal," especially "the part of the leg from the knewe to the ankle," Old English sceanca "leg, shank, shinbone," specifically, the part of the leg from the knee to the ankle, from Proto-Germanic *skunkia- (source also of Middle Low German schenke, German schenkel "shank, leg"), perhaps literally " ...

What is a shank street slang? ›

Shank/Sword A knife or blade weapon. Spinner Revolver. Stones Bullets or pellets of crack. Strapping Carrying a gun or firearm.

What is a shank used for? ›

It is used in stews and soups and dishes such as beef bourguignon. As a cheaper cut of meat, shank meat cut is found in cultural recipes across the globe. In Asia, it has long been a popular cut. The Italian dish Osso Bucco translates to “bone with a hole.” That describes the shank meat cut.

What is shanks in humans? ›

Your shanks are your shins, the lower part of your leg. It hurts like crazy to bang your shank on the edge of a coffee table. Shank comes from a Germanic source related to Schenkel, or "thigh." It's most common to talk about shanks in terms of meat, like lamb shanks or beef shanks, rather than your own shins.

Why is shank used? ›

A shankha (Sanskrit: शंख, romanized: Śankha, lit. 'conch') has religious ritual importance in Hinduism. In Hinduism, the shankha called panchajanya is a sacred emblem of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu. It is still used as a trumpet in Hindu ritual, and in the past was used as a war trumpet.

What does the nickname shank mean? ›

English: nickname perhaps for someone with long legs or some peculiarity of gait, from Middle English shanke, shonke 'shank, leg' (Old English sceanca). This vocabulary word was preserved in Scotland, whereas in England it was replaced by Old Norse leggr.

What does Rizz actually mean? ›

What does it mean? Rizz is short for “charisma,” and it simply means an ability to charm and woo a person. It's pronounced, well, rizz, just like it's spelled. The term found its way into teen slang through TikTok and other social media.

How do you use shank in a sentence? ›

Examples from Collins dictionaries

These hooks are sharp with long shanks. Turn the shanks and baste them once or twice as they cook.

What is a WAP in British slang? ›

(UK, dialect) A blow or beating; a whap. (colloquial) A breast.

What is a shank in England slang? ›

It is a verb meaning to stab someone with a home-made implement. You could use it as a noun as well, which is when it would refer to a shank - a home-made weapon. Examples could include; He made a shank whilst in prison.

What is a shank in English? ›

shank noun [C] (LEG)

the leg of a person or animal, especially the part below the knee: You can buy ready-to-use beef shanks from your supermarket.

What is a shank in Old English? ›

From Middle English schanke, from Old English sċanca (“leg”), from Proto-West Germanic *skan*ō, from Proto-Germanic *skan*ô (compare West Frisian skonk, Low German Schanke, German Schenkel (“shank, leg”), Danish skan*, Norwegian skan*), from *skan*az (compare Old Norse skakkr (“wry, crooked”)), from Proto-Indo-European ...

What is the shank in humans? ›

Your shanks are your shins, the lower part of your leg. It hurts like crazy to bang your shank on the edge of a coffee table. Shank comes from a Germanic source related to Schenkel, or "thigh." It's most common to talk about shanks in terms of meat, like lamb shanks or beef shanks, rather than your own shins.

How do inmates make shanks? ›

“Shivs” or “shanks” are stabbing knives that can be made from shaved-down items like plastic toothbrushes, strips of metal or wood. A padlock inserted inside a sock can be swung against someone's head to deadly effect. Dental floss or a light cord can be turned into a garrote for choking.

What is a shank in jail? ›

A shank is a handmade weapon made out of items received in jails or prisons. The item is sharpened by scraping metal on concrete floors and the handle is typically made from paper or cloth. Full-size pencils, toothbrushes, pens, candy canes, and even chicken bones aren't handed out at CCDC.

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