Shake \Shake\,
   obs. p. p. of {Shake}. --Chaucer.
   
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Shake \Shake\, v. t. [imp. {Shook}; p. p. {Shaken}, ({Shook},
   obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shaking}.] [OE. shaken, schaken, AS.
   scacan, sceacan; akin to Icel. & Sw. skaka, OS. skakan, to
   depart, to flee. [root]161. Cf. {Shock}, v.]
   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.
      
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            As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is
            shaken of a mighty wind.              --Rev. vi. 13.
      
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            Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels
            That shake heaven's basis.            --Milton.
      
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   2. Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of;
      to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of.
      
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            When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by
            his enemies, they persecuted his reputation.
                                                  --Atterbury.
      
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            Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love
            Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced. --Milton.
      
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   3. (Mus.) To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake
      a note in music.
      
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   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.
      
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            Shake off the golden slumber of repose. --Shak.
      
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            'Tis our fast intent
            To shake all cares and business from our age.
                                                  --Shak.
      
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            I could scarcely shake him out of my company.
                                                  --Bunyan.
      
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   {To shake a cask} (Naut.), 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} (Naut.), to untile the reef points and
      spread more canvas.

   {To shake the bells}. See under {Bell}.

   {To shake the sails} (Naut.), to luff up in the wind, causing
      the sails to shiver. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
      
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Shake \Shake\, v. i.
   To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble;
   to shiver; to quake; to totter.
   
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         Under his burning wheels
         The steadfast empyrean shook throughout,
         All but the throne itself of God.        --Milton.
   
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         What danger? Who 's that that shakes behind there?
                                                  --Beau. & Fl.
   
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   {Shaking piece}, a name given by butchers to the piece of
      beef cut from the under side of the neck. See Illust. of
      {Beef}.
      
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Shake \Shake\, n.
   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.
      
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            The great soldier's honor was composed
            Of thicker stuff, which could endure a shake.
                                                  --Herbert.
      
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            Our salutations were very hearty on both sides,
            consisting of many kind shakes of the hand.
                                                  --Addison.
      
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   2. A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried
      too suddenly. --Gwilt.
      
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   3. A fissure in rock or earth.
      
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   4. (Mus.) A rapid alternation of a principal tone with
      another represented on the next degree of the staff above
      or below it; a trill.
      
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   5. (Naut.) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken
      apart. --Totten.
      
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   6. A shook of staves and headings. --Knight.
      
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   7. (Zool.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its
      head while on the ground. [Prov. Eng.]
      
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   {No great shakes}, of no great importance. [Slang] --Byron.

   {The shakes}, the fever and ague. [Colloq. U.S.]
      
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