sheepshank

sheepshank
sheepshank 1670s, "leg of a sheep," from SHEEP (Cf. sheep) + SHANK (Cf. shank). Attested earlier in transf. sense of "type of sailor's knot used to shorten a rope without cutting it" (1620s).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sheepshank — An unloaded sheepshank tied in nylon rope. Category Shortening Origin 1627[ …   Wikipedia

  • Sheepshank — Sheep shank , n. (Naut.) A hitch by which a rope may be temporarily shortened. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheepshank — ► NOUN ▪ a knot used to shorten a rope temporarily …   English terms dictionary

  • sheepshank — [shēpshaŋk΄] n. a knot used for shortening a rope: see KNOT1 …   English World dictionary

  • sheepshank — /sheep shangk /, n. a kind of knot, hitch, or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily. [1635 45; short for sheepshank knot; literal sense unclear] * * * …   Universalium

  • sheepshank — sheep•shank [[t]ˈʃipˌʃæŋk[/t]] n. navig. a kind of knot, hitch, or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily • Etymology: 1625–35; short for sheepshank knot; literal sense unclear …   From formal English to slang

  • sheepshank — noun Date: 1627 1. a knot for shortening a line see knot illustration 2. Scottish something of no worth or importance …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sheepshank — noun A type of knot which is useful for shortening a rope or taking up slack. See Also: dogshank …   Wiktionary

  • sheepshank — n. knot used to temporarily shorten a rope …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sheepshank — noun a knot used to shorten a rope, made by taking two bights of rope and securing them to the standing rope with two half hitches …   English new terms dictionary

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