\Shake\,
obs. p. p. of {Shake}. --Chaucer.

\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.
         As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is
         shaken of a mighty wind.              --Rev. vi. 13.
         Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels That shake
         heaven's basis.                       --Milton.
2. Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of;
   to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of.
         When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by
         his enemies, they persecuted his reputation.
                                               --Atterbury.
         Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love Can by
         his fraud be shaken or seduced.       --Milton.
3. (Mus.) To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake
   a note in music.
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.
         Shake off the golden slumber of repose. --Shak.
         'Tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business
         from our age.                         --Shak.
         I could scarcely shake him out of my company.
                                               --Bunyan.
{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.

\Shake\, v. i.
To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble;
to shiver; to quake; to totter.
      Under his burning wheels The steadfast empyrean shook
      throughout, All but the throne itself of God. --Milton.
      What danger? Who 's that that shakes behind there?
                                               --Beau. & Fl.
{Shaking piece}, a name given by butchers to the piece of
   beef cut from the under side of the neck. See Illust. of
   {Beef}.

\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.
         The great soldier's honor was composed Of thicker
         stuff, which could endure a shake.    --Herbert.
         Our salutations were very hearty on both sides,
         consisting of many kind shakes of the hand.
                                               --Addison.
2. A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried
   too suddenly. --Gwilt.
3. A fissure in rock or earth.
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.
5. (Naut.) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken
   apart. --Totten.
6. A shook of staves and headings. --Knight.
7. (Zo["o]l.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of
   its head while on the ground. [Prov. Eng.]
{No great shakes}, of no great importance. [Slang] --Byron.
{The shakes}, the fever and ague. [Colloq. U.S.]