noun

shank

SHANK/ʃæŋk/

The long lower segment of a leg.

The lamb shank retains the tapered shape of the animal's lower leg.

A single raw lamb shank on a plain white plate, with its tapered lower-leg shape and exposed bone end clearly visible, illustrating the meat-cut sense.

Etymology

Old English sceanca already named the leg, especially the section between knee and ankle. The meat-cut sense applies that anatomical name to the corresponding part of an animal.

In context

The Healthy Butcher1:37

I'm going to cut this part of the arm off of the shank which is the forearm of the beef

"The Shank" (Osso Buco) - Breaking Down The Beef

More examples

Tall boots protect his shanks from thorns.
She slowly braises lamb shanks until the meat is tender.
The butcher cuts the beef shank into thick slices.

Forms

shank · shanks

Similar words

shin: Specifically the front of the lower leg, not the whole segment.
calf: The fleshy back of the lower leg, rather than the whole segment.