Shake — Defs

01 p. p.

02 v. t. To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate.

imp. Shook; p. p. Shaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Shaking

1.
To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate.obs.
“As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” — Rev. vi. 13.

“Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels That shake heaven's basis.” — Milton.
2.
Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of.
“When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by his enemies, they persecuted his reputation.” — Atterbury.

“Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced.” — Milton.
3.
To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music.(Mus.)
4.
To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; -- generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree.
“Shake off the golden slumber of repose.” — Shak.

“'Tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age.” — Shak.

“I could scarcely shake him out of my company.” — Bunyan.

Phrases & compounds

To shake a cask — to knock a cask to pieces and pack the staves.

To shake hands — to perform the customary act of civility by clasping and moving hands, as an expression of greeting, farewell, good will, agreement, etc.

To shake out a reef — to untile the reef points and spread more canvas.

To shake the bells — See under Bell.

To shake the sails — to luff up in the wind, causing the sails to shiver.

03 v. i. To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter.

1.
To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter.
“Under his burning wheels The steadfast empyrean shook throughout, All but the throne itself of God.” — Milton.

“What danger? Who 's that that shakes behind there?” — Beau. & Fl.

Phrases & compounds

Shaking piece — a name given by butchers to the piece of beef cut from the under side of the neck. See Illust. of Beef.

04 n. The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation.

1.
The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation.
“The great soldier's honor was composed Of thicker stuff, which could endure a shake.” — Herbert.

“Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand.” — Addison.
2.
A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried too suddenly.
3.
A fissure in rock or earth.
4.
A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill.(Mus.)
5.
One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart.(Naut.)
6.
A shook of staves and headings.
7.
The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground.(Zool.) [Prov. Eng.]

Phrases & compounds

No great shakes — of no great importance.

The shakes — the fever and ague.