shank
UK[ʃæŋk]US[ʃæŋk]
n
The long, straight, narrow part of a tool or instrument, such as the shaft of a key or a spoon.
n
The part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle.
n
A cut of meat from the upper part of the front or back leg of an animal.
v
To hit a golf or other ball with the extreme heel of the club, causing it to veer off sharply.
Etymology
The word 'shank' has a direct and ancient lineage from Proto-Germanic, likely from a root meaning "to bend" or "crooked," which aptly describes the shape of the leg. It entered Old English as 'sceanca', retaining its core anatomical meaning. Over centuries, its application broadened metaphorically to describe any long, slender, shaft-like part of an object, from tools to cuts of meat. This evolution from a specific body part to a generalized shape exemplifies a common pattern of semantic extension in the English lexicon.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The Old English form was 'sceanca', meaning the leg or shinbone. It is related to other Germanic words like Middle Low German 'schenke' and Dutch 'schenk'.
Examples
The old man rubbed his aching shank after the long walk.
Make sure the shank of the drill bit is securely fastened in the chuck.
He unfortunately shanked the penalty kick, sending the ball wildly off target.