shin

 
Pronunciation: /ʃɪn/

noun

  • the front of the leg below the knee.
  • a cut of beef from the lower part of a cow’s leg.

verb (shins, shinning, shinned)

[no object] (shin up/down)
  • climb quickly up or down by gripping with one’s arms and legs: he shinned up a tree

Origin:

Old English scinu, probably from a Germanic base meaning 'narrow or thin piece'; related to German Schiene 'thin plate' and Dutch scheen. The verb was originally in nautical use (early 19th century)