A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1660
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S(c)hin, n. Also: schyn, shine, chin, chyne. [ME and e.m.E. schine (a1250), schen (c1450), shyn (1529), OE scinu. Cf. WFris. skine, MLG, MDu. schêne.] The (front part of the) lower leg of a person or animal; the sharp front edge of the shin-bone; the shin. Also proverb.(1) a1500 King Hart 925.
This brokin schyn that swellis and will nocht swage ȝe beir to him c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 103/14.
The wyff … That with the taingis wald braek his schinnis c1500-c1512 Ib. 105/23.
With schinnis scharp and small lyk rockis a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS 245/31.
I sall hit thy spindill schyn a1570-86 Balnaves Maitland Folio MS 357/59.
Out of thair schynis the substance rynis 1600-1610 Melvill 21.
[He] strak him selff a deipe wound in the schin of the lag 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 15.
Ane ane uther pairt of hir schynnis … of new assayit with the foirsaid gaddis of yron 1632 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. IV 473.
[The] minister … caused tortour the complainer with bow strings, stob her with preins, … call wedges on her schinnes [etc.] 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI (1975) 50.
Notwithstanding that shoe was sensible in the chyne and shrinked yet being questioned thairefter whare shoe fand pain, shoe could not point the pairt a1660 Sanny Briggs in Watson's Coll. i 38/62.
Sare be his shins, and's kail ay cauldproverb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1943 (B).
Sweir be thy brunt schynnis a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 505.
It that lyes not in your gate, breaks not your shinnes a1598 Ib. No. 774.
Swear by your burnt shines(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2948.
This lytill mous, heir knit thus be the schyn [Bann. chin]
