Sheepshank
[SHEEP-shangk]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Unknown, mid-17th century
A kind of knot used to shorten a rope temporarily.
Examples of sheepshank in a sentence
"Killian was glad he remembered how to tie a sheepshank from his Boy Scout days."
"The sailor quickly tied some sheepshanks to keep the rope out of the way."
[SHEEP-shangk]
About Sheepshank
While we know that this noun first originated in the 17th century as a type of temporary knot used to shorten a rope quickly, its literal origins are largely unknown.
Did you Know?
A sheepshank is a knot that can quickly be tied to take up slack on a rope. It’s not very stable, so it shouldn’t be used in situations that require a secure hold.
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