shinny

¹

[shin-ee]

noun

plural

shinnies 

1. a simple variety of hockey, played with a ball, block of wood, or the like, and clubs curved at one end.

2. the club used.

verb (used without object)

shinnied, shinnying 

1. to play shinny.

2. to drive the ball at shinny.

shinny

²

[shin-ee]

verb (used without object)

shinnied, shinnying 

1. shin.

   He shinnied up the tree.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shinny¹

First recorded in 1665–75; variant of shin ye, cry used in the game

Origin of shinny²

1850–55, apparently derivative of shin ¹; source of -y is unclear

Example Sentences

Beowulf shinnied up the tree in which the snare was set and quickly cut the admiral down by gnawing through the rope with his teeth.

Read more on Literature

It reverts to the sport’s origins of outdoor “shinny” on frozen Canadian ponds more than 150 years ago while rekindling memories among players of youth spent at neighborhood backyard or street-corner rinks.

Read more on Seattle Times

He gathered his strength and then he managed to shinny up the trunk inch by inch.

Read more on Literature

He wants to shinny up the greasy pole, but I don’t know how ruthless he is.

Read more on New York Times

On top of that, it takes time for our neurons to shinny their electricity up into our skulls.

Read more on Washington Post