Definition of the word shank

The word "shank" is an Old English term, originally spelled as "saenc," meaning "bone" or "whites of meat." This word was used to describe the long, narrow portion of meat that remained on the bone after it had been cooked, including the leg bone for meat dishes like lamb shanks or veal shanks. As the preference for boneless meat increased, the shank bone itself became a less desirable cutting of meat, leading to its use in other dishes like stews and braised dishes. Today, the term "shank" is primarily used in reference to the bone itself or as a descriptor for a long, narrow object, such as a shank on a fork or a meat cleaver. The term has also evolved to have negative connotations when used as a slang word for prison inmates' personal belongings, such as a toothbrush or a cigarette, that are often placed inside hidden compartments on their bodies during imprisonment. This is due to the fact that prisoners sometimes hide contraband items in their shanks, which are passed among inmates without suspicion.