Shaft vs Shank

[pizza]

Is there a difference? how do you use each?, for example, a shank of this but not of that and shaft of this but not of that.

[JohnParis]

Please rephrase your question. What do you want to know?

The first definition of the word shank is: "a person's leg, esp. the part from the knee to the ankle".

The first definition of the word shaft is: "a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, or a similar implement "

[pizza]

I meant shank as a synonym of shaft (see definition below) and I'd like to know how to differentiate them both. When do you use shank instead or shaft and vice versa?

shank: a narrow part of various devices, as a tool or bolt, connecting the end by which the object is held or moved with the end that acts upon another object.

shaft: your definition is good.

[JohnParis]

I see your point, and I suppose that you could use them as synonyms - but I would never do so. It's a question of style.
When I look for a synonym, I do not look for similarities between the primary or secondary or even tertiary meanings of words.
I look for similarities between the primary definitions only.
John

[Tdol]

Shank is also used for home-made weapons in prison slang.

[J&K Tutoring]

There is some overlap in the use of these two terms, but shaft is most commonly thought of as a long axle to which the rotating parts of a machine are rigidly fixed. The shaft rotates with them, transfering energy from one place to another. One would not use shank in this meaning.

A shaft will be symetrical in cross section, but a shank needn't be.

pizza had a good definition of shank. I will add that, most often, a shank is a vertical element (hense its usage as a slang term for leg), though it is not defined as such.

A spindle is often a shorter shaft or a fixed (non-rotating) mount for rotating parts.

[JohnParis]

I will add that, most often, a shank is a vertical element (hense hence its usage as a slang term for leg), though it is not defined as such.

I took my definition of "shank" from the first definition given by The Oxford Dictionary of the English Language. Because it's the first definition, I don't see how it can be considered as a slang term for "leg". The second definition of the word says that a shank is the shaft or stem of a tool. This is why I said in post N°4 they they could be used as synonyms. It's probably just me, but I see shaft as being the more mechanical term and shank as being everything else from the part of an animal (lamb shanks) to a inmate's shiv.

definition of shank from Oxford Dictionaries Online

Shank : noun

• 1 (often shanks) a person’s leg , especially the part from the knee to the ankle:the old man’s thin, bony shanks showed through his trousers
• the lower part of an animal’s foreleg:many fast animals have long shanks or calves
• the shank of an animal’s leg as a cut of meat:meals like ham hocks and lamb shanks are cooked with reasonably priced cuts of meat

• 2 the shaft or stem of a tool or implement, in particular:.
• a long, narrow part of a tool connecting the handle to the operational end:gouges vary in the amount of curve or sweep on the cutting edge and the form of the shank
• the cylindrical part of a bit by which it is held in a drill.
• the long stem of a key , spoon, anchor, etc.:all Roman lever keys have a tubular shank
• the straight part of a fish hook.