extortion, as by blackmail or threats of violence.
2.
a thorough search:
a shakedown of prison cells to uncover hidden drugs.
3.
a bed, as of straw or blankets, spread on the floor.
4.
any makeshift bed.
5.
the act or process of shaking down.
6.
Also called shakedown cruise, shakedown flight. a cruise or flight intended to prepare a new vessel or aircraft for regular service by accustoming the crew to its features and peculiarities, breaking in and adjusting machinery, etc.
Also, shake-down.
Origin
1490-1500; noun, adj. use of verb phrase shake down
Slang definitions & phrases for shakedown cruise
shakedown cruise
noun phrase
A cruise or sea trial for a new or a newly repaired ship (1927+ Navy)
shakedown
noun
A night's lodging; an impromptu bed: I'll get a shakedown on the couch(1730+)
An instance of or a demand for blackmail, extortion, etc; victimization by the protection racket: Listen, I know this is a shakedown(1902+ Underworld)
thorough search of a person or place; shake: We gave the room a first-class shakedown(1914+)
A trying-out or first tentative use, esp of a machine, ship, process, etc: Let's give this new idea a shakedown and see if it works(1930s+)
[final sense fr shakedown cruise; all senses fr the notion of a vigorous shaking of a person or place to reveal something hidden, a flaw, etc]