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.