Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

shinny1

[shin-ee]
See more synonyms for shinny on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural shin·nies.
  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.
Show More
verb (used without object), shin·nied, shin·ny·ing.
  1. to play shinny.
  2. to drive the ball at shinny.
Show More

Origin of shinny1

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

shinny2

[shin-ee]
verb (used without object), shin·nied, shin·ny·ing.
  1. shin1(def 5): He shinnied up the tree.
Show More

Origin of shinny2

1850–55, Americanism; apparently derivative of shin1; source of -y is unclear
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for shinny

Historical Examples

  • The games they enjoyed most were "Shinny" and a game played on the ice in the winter.

    Old Rail Fence Corners

    Various

  • When they had been chosen, David had to shinny up them to lop off their branches.

    David and the Phoenix

    Edward Ormondroyd

  • The beam was too massive to shinny, yet too narrow to lie inside and elbow up.

  • Strong and the boys felt that Shinny would let them know when he was ready.

  • I mean she would never 'shinny' up a straight, slivery beam.

    The Brass Bound Box

    Evelyn Raymond

Word Origin and History for shinny

v.

"to climb a rope, pole, etc.," 1888, from use of shins and ankles to do so; see shin (n.). Earlier simply shin (1829). Related: Shinnied; shinnying.

Show More

n.

also shinney, primitive form of hockey, 1670s, perhaps from Gaelic sinteag "a bound, a leap." OED suggests origin from shin ye "the cry used in the game."

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper