shanking

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A stabbing with a shank (improvised weapon).

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

There are some shankings and cuttings that happen during a year, but most are inconsequential to the administration or the public.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “shanking” mean?

A stabbing with a shank (improvised weapon).

Is “shanking” formal or informal?

shanking is generally slang.