shiner
shiner Lexical Profile
shiner Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A dark bruise around the eye caused by a blow; a black eye.
"He accidentally walked into a partially open door in the dark and ended up with a nasty shiner."
North American A small, typically silvery North American freshwater fish of the minnow family, frequently used as bait by anglers.
"We bought a bucket of live shiners from the local tackle shop to use as bait for catching bass."
A person who shines or polishes something, especially someone who cleans and polishes shoes for a living.
"The professional shoe shiner set up his chair near the busy train station entrance every morning."
• Rhymes for shiner
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the verb 'shine' + '-er'. The colloquial use meaning 'a black eye' emerged in the late 19th century, likely referring to the glossy, swollen appearance of bruised skin around the eye.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.