# shank

/ˈʃæŋk/ (US) · /ʃˈæŋk/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shank
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a homemade knife or sharp tool used as a weapon, usually in a prison. It is also a verb that means to stab someone with this kind of weapon.

For teachers: an improvised sharp-edged or pointed weapon, typically fashioned in a prison environment. Often used metonymically to refer to the act of stabbing itself.

## Examples

- The guards found a hidden shank during the cell inspection.
- In many prison movies, a character might fashion a shank out of a sharpened toothbrush or a piece of scrap metal.
- The tension in the yard spiked after rumors circulated that a rival gang member had been caught carrying a crude shank during the morning exercise period.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the context of correctional facilities or street slang; as a verb, it is transitive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.