The term 'make a sheepshank' refers to a type of knot used in sailing and other activities. The crossword solution for this term is 'TIE', which is an appropriate answer as tying a knot is the main action involved in making a sheepshank. The sheepshank knot is used to shorten a rope or line without cutting it, and is often used to temporarily reduce the length of a rope while still allowing it to be returned to its original length.