English Explanatory Dictionary

shanks' nag

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Transportation by foot. To "take a shanks' nag" means using one's own legs to walk.

Word forms

shanks' nag shanks' nags

Etymology

Traced back to shanks-nag, 1758; The expression -- believed to be Scottish in origin (i.e. shanks-naig 1774), refers to the use of shank to refer to the part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.

Related words

shank-nag

Derived words

shanks' mare shanks' pony
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