Rural Dictionary

Shank

(n.; v.)

1. Any crude, sharp weapon created from otherwise non-imposing objects. Screwdrivers, socket wrenches and hammers are not considered "shanks" because (a) they are not homemade, (b) they are not "crude," improvised weapons, (c) tools are inherently dangerous to begin with, and (d) none of them, with the exception of the screwdriver, are sharp objects. Shanks are created by the desperate for the purpose of stabbing, not bludgeoning.

A true shank would be something like:
- A broken piece of glass with a wrapped towel for a handle.
- A broken piece of plexiglass. Prison lunch trays are made of plexiglass, so shattering one might yield a suitable shank.
- A sharpened piece of wood, usually whittled into a stake rather than a shank, but as it is used for stabbing it is considered a shank nonetheless.
- A sharpened piece of scrap metal. Can be pilfered from just about anywhere.

2. A shank is also the U-shaped part of a padlock, or any other narrow-but-essential part of an object.

1. "See this carrot? This carrot's raw. I'm gonna shank you, whiteboy."

2. "I can't lock this damn thing; I think the shank needs oiling."

by Siegfried Zaga May 24, 2005

2227👍 725👎

shanked

Originally prison slang(as we know) for being stabbed by a crude improvised weapon. In area's like London(East london, North, West and South) It simply means stabbed-The word is used popularly by gangsters and delinquents.

Ill shank you bruv
Look yeah, duck out or ill shank you
You wanna get shanked?
Safe then ill shank you.

by Ninpo-Bugei July 28, 2006

340👍 119👎