sheepshank, n.
(ˈʃiːpʃæŋk)
1. The shank or leg of a sheep.
| 1675 Cotton Planters Man. 64 The third way [of making pallisados], which is done with Sheep-shancks fastned in the Walls, is doubtless the best..; but the bones must be set so near together, as [etc.]. In mod. Dicts. |
b. nae sheepshank (Sc.): a person or thing of no small importance.
| 1785 Burns Ep. to J. Lapraik (Apr. 21) xii, The paughty, feudal Thane,..Wha thinks himsel nae sheep-shank bane, But lordly stalks. c 1787 ― Brigs of Ayr 91, I doubt na, frien', ye'll think ye're nae sheep-shank. 1806 Tannahill Ep. Jas. Buchanan 11 Mony a puir, doilt, servile bodie Will..think himsel nae sma sheepshank. |
2. Naut. In full † sheepshank(s) knot: A knot cast on a rope for temporarily shortening it without cutting it or unfastening the ends.
Formed by doubling the rope in three parts and taking a hitch over the bight at each end with the other rope (Voyle).
¶By a printer's or clerical error in Manwayring's Seaman's Dictionary (1644), the explanation of Sheep-shanck and the heading of the following article Sheeres were omitted. Hence Randle Holme Armoury iii. 166/1 erroneously explains Sheepshank as ‘two Poles set across where a Block is hung’ etc. (= shear n.1 4).
| 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. v. 26 Sheepshanks Knot. The last is the Shepshanke, which is a knot they cast upon a Runner or Tackle when it is too long to take in the goods, and by this knot they can shorten a rope without cutting it. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Sheep-shank, a sort of knot or hitch [etc.]. 1788 Chambers' Cycl. s.v. Knot, The sheep-shank-knot. 1834 Marryat Peter Simple vi, Pass that brace through the bull's eye, and take the sheepshank out before you come down. 1870 Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 246 When both ends of the rope are fast, the ‘sheep⁓shank’ or, as it is sometimes called, the dogshank shortening is used. |
Hence ˈsheepshank v. trans., to shorten (a rope) by means of a sheepshank.
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v., The runner of the tackle is sheep-shanked. 1886 J. M. Caulfeild Seamanship Notes 4 Shorten up buoy-rope..; this is done by sheep-shanking it. |