shank etymology

Etymology

The word "shank" is derived from the Old English term "sceanca", meaning "leg". It is related to the Old Norse word "skankr", which also means "leg".

Meaning

The term "shank" has several meanings:

• The lower leg: The part of the leg between the knee and the ankle.
• The long, narrow part of a tool or object: Such as the handle of a hammer or the stem of a plant.
• A cut of meat from the lower leg of a cow: Typically used for stewing or making ground beef.
• Vulgar slang: A synonym for "leg".

Origin

The concept of a "shank" as a part of the leg has existed for centuries. The term "sceanca" was used in Old English texts as early as the 10th century. The word "skankr" appears in Old Norse writings from the Viking Age.

Over time, the term "shank" has come to be used in various contexts, referring to both the human leg and the long, narrow part of objects. The slang usage of "shank" as a synonym for "leg" emerged in the underworld of the Victorian era.

shank relate terms

• bone

  Etymology The word bone derives from the Proto Germanic bainaz meaning bone This r

• shank

  Etymology The word shank is derived from the Old English term sceanca meaning leg

• longshanks

  Etymology Middle English long schenkes from long tall schenkes shanks legs

• long

  Etymology The word long comes from the Proto Indo European root leng meaning to stre

• shank

  Etymology The word shank is derived from the Old English term sceanca meaning leg

• ride

  Etymology The word ride comes from the Old English word rīdan which means to go on

• skate

  Etymology The word skate has multiple etymological origins Middle Dutch schaetse

• cannon

  Etymology Middle English canoun Old French canon Latin canōn Greek kanōn rule st

• jamb

  Etymology and Meaning of Jamb The word jamb comes from the French word jambe mean

• bone

  Etymology The word bone derives from the Proto Germanic bainaz meaning bone This r

• nail

  Etymology The word nail has multiple etymological origins Germanic nagul or nagl n

• waist

  Etymology The word waist comes from the Old Norse word veistr which means waist