shakedown

or shake-down

[ sheyk-doun ]
/ ˈʃeɪkˌdaʊn /

noun

extortion, as by blackmail or threats of violence.
a thorough search: a shakedown of prison cells to uncover hidden drugs.
a bed, as of straw or blankets, spread on the floor.
any makeshift bed.
the act or process of shaking down.
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.

Origin of shakedown

First recorded in 1490–1500; noun, adj. use of verb phrase shake down

Example sentences from the Web for shakedown