n.one's legs, particularly as a method of moving oneself from one location to another. To move or go somewhere by shanks' mares means to
walk as opposed to
riding. The
term shank is an oldfashioned
word for that part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. Mare is a matured female horse, donkey, mule, etc. The
origin of this
phrase is uncertain; however, it may have started around the
time of Edward I (1239- 1307)
King of
England (1272-1307).
King Edward was nicknamed Long shanks as his legs were very long and when he rode a pony his feet were said to have reached the
ground.