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shakedown definition

shake·down (s̸hāk′do̵un′)

noun

  1. a crude, makeshift bed, as a pallet of straw
  2. ☆ Slang an extortion of money, as by blackmail
  3. ☆ a thorough search of a person or place

adjective

for testing the performance or operational characteristics or acclimating the personnel

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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