Shin

/ʃɪn/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The front part of the leg below the knee.

He felt a sharp pain in his shin after he tripped on the sidewalk.

The corresponding part of the leg of an animal; specifically, the lower leg.

The butcher prepared the shin of beef for the stew.

verb

To strike one's shin, typically against a hard object.

I shinned the table leg when I walked by too closely.

Old English 'scinna', related to Old High German 'scinna' meaning 'shin'.

shin splints

A condition causing pain along the shin bone, often related to exercise.

shin up

To climb quickly, usually by using one's legs and arms.

knee

The joint between the thigh and the lower leg.

ankle

The joint between the foot and the leg.

A term for leg in some informal contexts.

After the hike, my shins were sore.

Referring to someone who is tall and thin.

Look at him, he's got shins for days!