Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sheepshank

/ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: sheep-shank
IPA: /ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/

22

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A type of knot which is useful for shortening a rope or taking up slack without cutting it.

verb

To shorten (a rope) using a sheepshank knot.

Transitive verb

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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/
British English: /ˈʃiːpʃæŋk/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

sheepshanks (plural) sheepshanks (present, singular) sheepshanking (participle, present) sheepshanked (participle, past) sheepshanked (past)

Frequently Paired Words

catshank dogshank

Questions

How do you pronounce sheepshank?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/.
What does sheepshank mean?: A type of knot which is useful for shortening a rope or taking up slack without cutting it.
Where does sheepshank come from?: 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.

How to pronounce sheepshank

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “sheepshank”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈʃipˌʃæŋk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “sheepshank” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.