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You are here: Home / Language / Where does the word “Shindig” come from and What does Shindig mean?

Where does the word “Shindig” come from and What does Shindig mean?

June 29, 2020 by Karen Hill

Although one authority cites a purported Southern United States meaning of “A sharp blow on the shins,” this may only be a transferred meaning, from the appearance of the word “shindig”, to an accidental kick received during a spirited dance or party.

It seems much more likely that a shindig is a U.S. alteration of the much older British word shindy, which is preceded by shinty and shinny.

This last is a ball game of considerable antiquity (seventeenth century or older) somewhat resembling field hockey.

Its name may have been derived from a call used in the game, “Shin ye! Shin you!” or from the Gaelic sinteag, “a skip, jump.”

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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