Main Entry:

shake·down

Pronunciation:

\ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n\

Function:

noun

Date:

circa 1730

1: an improvised bed (as one made up on the floor)2: a boisterous dance3: an act or instance of shaking someone down ; especially : extortion4: a thorough search5: a process or period of adjustment6: a testing under operating conditions of something new (as a ship) for possible faults and defects and for familiarizing the operators with it