NOUN (3)

1. initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state;
- Example: "the new industry's economic shakedown"

2. a very thorough search of a person or a place;
- Example: "a shakedown by the police uncovered the drugs"

3. extortion of money (as by blackmail);


ADJECTIVE (1)

1. intended to test a new system under operating conditions and to familiarize the operators with the system;
- Example: "a shakedown cruise"

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Shakedown \Shake"down`\, n.
   A temporary substitute for a bed, as one made on the floor or
   on chairs; -- perhaps originally from the shaking down of
   straw for this purpose. --Sir W. Scott.
   [1913 Webster]
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

shakedown
    adj 1: intended to test a new system under operating conditions
           and to familiarize the operators with the system; "a
           shakedown cruise"
    n 1: initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the
         efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state; "the
         new industry's economic shakedown"
    2: a very thorough search of a person or a place; "a shakedown
       by the police uncovered the drugs"
    3: extortion of money (as by blackmail)