shin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the front part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle
  2. noun a cut of meat from the lower part of the leg
    shin bone.
  3. noun the 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
  4. noun the inner and thicker of the two bones of the human leg between the knee and ankle
    shinbone; shin bone; tibia.
  5. verb climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    shinny; skin; sputter; clamber; scramble; struggle.

WordNet

Shin noun
Etymology
OE. shine, schine, AS. scina; akin to D. scheen, OHG. scina, G. schiene, schienbein, Dan. skinnebeen, Sw. skenben. Cf. Chine.
Definitions
  1. The front part of the leg below the knee; the front edge of the shin bone; the lower part of the leg; the shank. "On his shin." Chaucer.
  2. (Railbroad) A fish plate for rails. Knight.
Shin intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Shinned ; present participle & verbal noun Shinning
Definitions
  1. To climb a mast, tree, rope, or the like, by embracing it alternately with the arms and legs, without help of steps, spurs, or the like; -- used with up; as, to shin up a mast. Slang now usu. shinny
  2. To run about borrowing money hastily and temporarily, as for the payment of one's notes at the bank. Slang, U.S. Bartlett.
Shin transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To climb (a pole, etc.) by shinning up. Slang

Webster 1913