verb. (colloquial).—Generic for action: spec. to walk, to tramp: also TO SHIN IT. Hence TO SHIN UP = to climb; TO SHIN IT (SHIN ROUND, or BREAK SHINS) = to go a round of lenders: whence SHINNER = a borrower; TO SHIN OUT OF = to clear off; TO BREAK ONE’S SHINS (see above); also (2) to be in a hurry; and (3) to fall against, or over, a person or thing; AGAINST ONE’S SHINS = unwillingly (RAY). Also SHINNY (American) = a negro tramp: cf. HOBOE.
1834. ASA GREENE, The Perils of Pearl Street, 124. Any thing over? … is an expression used by SHINNERS, on applying to their acquaintances for the needful; and … if so, it is … expected, that … you will oblige the SHINNER.
1836. R. H. DANA, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, 284. We had to furl them again in a snow-squall, and SHIN UP and DOWN single ropes caked with ice.
1838. J. C. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, II. 13, ‘The Fleshy One.’ ‘SHIN IT, good man,’ ejaculated a good-natured urchin.
1845. New York Commercial Advertiser, 13 Dec. The Senator was SHINNING AROUND, to get gold for the rascally bank-rags.
1857. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, i. 9. Nothing for it but the tree; so Tom laid his bones to it SHINNING UP as as fast he could.
1868. C. READE and BOUCICAULT, Foul Play, ch. xxv. I know I did n’t ought to ax a parson to SHIN UP a tree for me.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms. To obtain money he has probably had much SHINNING to do, as slang calls the running about to friends and acquaintances.
1882. T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), Vice Versâ, xvi. SHIN OUT of this, whatever y’are, we don’t contrack to carry no imps on this line.
1884. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, iv. I was up in a second and SHINNING DOWN the hill.
1891. W. C. RUSSELL, An Ocean Tragedy, 86. I sprang and had soon SHINNED as high as the topgallant-yard.
1900. A. C. GUNTER, The Princess of Copper, 7. Lay low, but tell yer dad to SHIN UP here quick.
1900. FLYNT, Tramping with Tramps, 109. My knowledge of the SHINIES is very meager. Ibid., 323. The ‘blanket stiff,’ the ‘gay-cat,’ THE ‘SHINY,’ the ‘Frenchy,’ and the ‘ex-prushun’ were all there.
1900. F. E. GRAINGER (‘Headon Hill’), Caged! xxxiv. He’ll just fetch the girl across from her room, make a rope of the bed-clothes, and SHIN DOWN with her in his arms.
2. (common).—To kick on the shins.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The House-warming), II. 351. A ring!—give him room or he’ll ‘SHIN’ you—stand clear!
1864. B. HEMYNG, Eton School Days, xiii. He could not go out … without someone throwing a stone at him, or hissing, or SHINNING him if he passed near enough.
