shakedown

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʃeɪkdaʊn/

noun

informal, chiefly North American
  • 1another term for shake-up. a major British monarchy shakedown
  • 2a thorough search of a person or place: nightclub owners were constantly subject to shakedowns by a corrupt police department
  • 3an act of swindling someone or extorting money: he had served time in federal prison for shakedowns on school construction projects in Alabama
  • 4a test of a new product or model, especially a vehicle or ship: he gave the car its first ever shakedown at Silverstone
  • 5a makeshift bed.