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shindig

Etymology and origin of the English word shindig

History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈʃɪn.dɪɡ/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

Probably an alteration of shindy “a spree, row, merrymaking” (1821),[2][3][4][5][6] itself of unknown origin,[3] perhaps from shinty (1771), a Scottish game akin to hockey.[4][6] It has also been explained as from shin and dig, “a kick in the shins”, perhaps through folk etymology.[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A dance, ball or rowdy party (1842 in Merriam-Webster; 1849 in the OED; 1851 in Etymonline, as US colloquial).[5][7][4]

Semantic evolution

Hendrickson records shin-dig in 1859 as a Southern word for a kick in the shins, and believes the party sense developed from it within about ten years.[6] The party word was at first used especially of a low-class dance, and often in the South of gatherings of Black people.[4] Early sources sometimes call the word Irish, but evidence is lacking.[4] By 1871 it meant any lively gathering, and today usually a large or lavish party.[7][3][5]

Timeline

  • 1821 – shindy, a spree.[3][4]
  • 1842 – shindig (Merriam-Webster).[5]
  • 1851 – a dance, a rowdy party.[4]
  • 1871 – a lively gathering of any kind.[7][3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A festive party or social gathering, often with dancing; especially a large or lavish one.
  2. A noisy disturbance or commotion; a shindy.
  • shindy
  • shinty
  • shinny

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d Hendrickson, Robert (2008), The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, 4th ed., New York: Facts on File
  7. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Shindig.” Etymologically, 10 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/shindig. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·