sheepshank

noun, verb — 2 senses

sheepshank

noun

UK /ˈʃiːpʃæŋk/ · US /ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/

Etymology Originally sheepshank knot or sheepshanks knot, from sheep + shank (“part of the leg between the knee and ankle”); the connection between the knot and a sheep’s leg is unclear.

Nautical, Transport A type of knot which is useful for shortening a rope or taking up slack without cutting it.

Coordinate terms: catshank, dogshank

sheepshank

verb

Etymology Originally sheepshank knot or sheepshanks knot, from sheep + shank (“part of the leg between the knee and ankle”); the connection between the knot and a sheep’s leg is unclear.

To shorten (a rope) using a sheepshank knot.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.