Shank

[thedaffodils]

Scenario:(About American cartoon -The Simpsons)

Mischievous Bart played a prank on a pastor during the congregation. His loyal sidekick Milhouse told the pastor that Bart did it. Bart was punished by the pastor. So was Milhouse.

When the pastor went away, Bart told Milhouse, "You shank, How could you tell on me?"

Milhouse responded, "Well, I didn't want hungry birds pecking my soul forever."

Questions:

Does "shank" refer a person who stab another people in the back in English slang? Do most native speakers understand it? Thanks!

I looked up an online dictionary and found a close definition of "shank" which refers to a homemade knife.
Urban Dictionary: Shank

[Tdol]

I would understand it as another word for snitch/sneak. I don't know if it connected to the slang for knife, which is a term used by prisoners, but if it is, it could be something to do without stabbing someone in the back by betraying them (a guess).

[thedaffodils]

Hi Tdol,

Thank you for your answer.