SHAKEDOWN

shakedown

(adjective) intended to test a new system under operating conditions and to familiarize the operators with the system; “a shakedown cruise”

shakedown

(noun) extortion of money (as by blackmail)

shakedown

(noun) a very thorough search of a person or a place; “a shakedown by the police uncovered the drugs”

shakedown

(noun) initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state; “the new industry’s economic shakedown”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

shakedown (plural shakedowns)

(slang) Extortion, especially through blackmail

(slang) A thorough search; a frisk

A trial or test period, especially of a ship or aircraft

An improvised bed.

Adjective

shakedown

that tests the performance of a ship or aircraft

Anagrams

• hawknosed

Source: Wiktionary


Shake"down`, n.

Definition: A temporary substitute for a bed, as one made on the floor or on chairs; -- perhaps originally from the shaking down of straw for this purpose. Sir W. Scott.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

18 March 2025

ODONTOGLOSSUM

(noun) any of numerous and diverse orchids of the genus Odontoglossum having racemes of few to many showy usually large flowers in many colors


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Coffee Trivia

The first coffee-house in Mecca dates back to the 1510s. The beverage was in Turkey by the 1530s. It appeared in Europe circa 1515-1519 and was introduced to England by 1650. By 1675 the country had more than 3,000 coffee houses, and coffee had replaced beer as a breakfast drink.

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