sheepshank

American  

[sheep-shangk] / ˈʃipˌʃæŋk /

noun

1. a kind of knot, hitch, or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily.

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sheepshank British  

/ ˈʃiːpˌʃæŋk /

noun

1. a knot consisting of two hitches at the ends of a bight made in a rope to shorten it temporarily

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Etymology

Origin of sheepshank

First recorded in 1635–45; short for sheepshank knot; literal sense unclear

Example Sentences

But worse than that: the conquest of England could tie the entire world diamond industry into a Nazi-controlled sheepshank.

From Time Magazine Archive

"And tie four of the following knots: Reef, sheet-bend, clove-hitch, bow line, middleman's, fisherman's, sheepshank," finished Rand.

From The Boy Scouts Patrol by Victor, Ralph

The sheepshank knot serves to shorten a rope without cutting it, and may be presently loosened.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

I doubt na, frien', ye'll think ye're nae sheepshank, Ance ye were streekit owre frae bank to bank!

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

The chief steward was a friend, the bos'n or quartermaster had shown us the trick of a sheepshank or a reef-knot or a short splice.

From Merchantmen-at-arms : the British merchants' service in the war by Bone, David W. (David William)