shakedown

See also: shake down and shake-down

English

Alternative forms

• shake-down

Etymology

From the verb phrase shake down. An improvised bed would originally have been made by shaking down straw.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

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Noun

shakedown (plural shakedowns)

1. (slang) Extortion, especially through blackmail

   What is this, a shakedown?

2. (slang) A thorough search; a frisk
3. A trial or test period, especially of a ship or aircraft
4. An improvised bed.
   • 1915, W. Somerset Maugham, "Of Human Bondage":

     "There's nowhere for me to lie down, sir," he answered, and there was in his voice a humbleness which was very distressing. -- "Don't you know anyone in the house who'll give you a shakedown?" -- "No, sir."

   • 1974, Thea Astley, A Kindness Cup, Text Classics 2018, p. 107:

     ‘You two,’ he says, ‘you're not going back tonight. […] I can make you shake-downs on the veranda and we'll have a bite to eat.’

Translations

extortion — see extortion

a thorough search

• German: Durchsuchung (de) f,, Razzia (de) f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: о́быск (ru) m (óbysk)

trial or test period

• German: Probebetrieb m, Versuchsbetrieb m, Testbetrieb (de) m
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an improvised bed

• German: Klappbett (de) n, Gästebett (de) m, Liege (de) f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Adjective

shakedown

1. that tests the performance of a ship or aircraft

Translations

that tests the performance

• German: test-, probe-
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

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