shin
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the front part of your leg below the knee and above the ankle.
n.the anterior part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle, specifically the front edge of the tibia.
Simple“He wore plastic guards to protect his shins during the football match.”
In context“The athlete suffered a painful bruise on his left shin after colliding with a low wooden hurdle during the final sprint.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to climb up or down something like a pole or tree by wrapping your arms and legs around it.
v.to climb a vertical object by gripping it alternately with the arms and legs, typically without the aid of steps or equipment.
Simple“The boy managed to shin up the tree to rescue the stuck kite.”
In context“The sailors were expected to shin up the masts with remarkable speed, even during heavy storms at sea.”
Usageoften used with 'up' or 'down'
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to hit someone or something with the front of your lower leg.
v.to strike an opponent or object using the anterior part of the lower leg.
Simple“He accidentally shinned the table leg while running through the dark room.”
In context“In the heat of the scuffle, the defender shinned the striker, resulting in a foul and a free kick for the opposing team.”
From Scottish Gaelic abhainn Sin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.