# shin

/ˈʃɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. part of the leg

noun · CEFR B2

the front part of your leg below the knee and above the ankle.

For teachers: the anterior part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle, specifically the front edge of the tibia.

- He wore plastic guards to protect his shins during the football match.
- The athlete suffered a painful bruise on his left shin after colliding with a low wooden hurdle during the final sprint.

### 2. to climb using arms and legs

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to climb up or down something like a pole or tree by wrapping your arms and legs around it.

For teachers: to climb a vertical object by gripping it alternately with the arms and legs, typically without the aid of steps or equipment.

- The boy managed to shin up the tree to rescue the stuck kite.
- The sailors were expected to shin up the masts with remarkable speed, even during heavy storms at sea.

Usage: often used with 'up' or 'down'

### 3. to kick with the shin

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to hit someone or something with the front of your lower leg.

For teachers: to strike an opponent or object using the anterior part of the lower leg.

- He accidentally shinned the table leg while running through the dark room.
- In the heat of the scuffle, the defender shinned the striker, resulting in a foul and a free kick for the opposing team.

## Examples

- He accidentally kicked the table and bruised his shin.
- The soccer player adjusted his protective pads to ensure his shins were fully covered before the match started.
- While the calf muscle provides significant cushioning at the back of the lower leg, the shin remains vulnerable to impact due to the proximity of the bone to the skin's surface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.