noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈʃiːpʃæŋk/
Received-Pronunciation:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/
1
noun
Meaning 1
A type of knot which is useful for shortening a rope or taking up slack without cutting it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To shorten (a rope) using a sheepshank knot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a knot for shortening a line
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: knot
History
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.
Across languages
Translations
8 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
възел за скъсяване на въже
(vǎzel za skǎsjavane na vǎže)
— type of knot
Dutch:
trompetsteek
— type of knot
Finnish:
lyhennyssolmu
— type of knot
Finnish:
trumpettisolmu
— type of knot
French:
nœud de jambe de chien
— type of knot
Russian:
узел камикадзе
(uzel kamikadze)
— type of knot
Swedish:
trumpetstek
— type of knot
Bulgarian:
скъсявам
(skǎsjavam)
— to shorten (a rope) using a sheepshank knot