sheepshank

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʃiːpʃæŋk/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/ Hyphenation: sheep‧shank === Noun === sheepshank (plural sheepshanks) (nautical) A type of knot which is useful for shortening a rope or taking up slack without cutting it. ==== Coordinate terms ==== catshank dogshank ==== Translations ==== === Verb === sheepshank (third-person singular simple present sheepshanks, present participle sheepshanking, simple past and past participle sheepshanked) (transitive) To shorten (a rope) using a sheepshank knot. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === sheepshank on Wikipedia.Wikipedia