to bark one's shins

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

To knock the skin off the shins by stumbling or striking against something.


Mr. Hortshorne calls this a very old metaphor, and says is found in the ancient popular poetry of Scotland.--Shropshire Glossary.

Berding her selffe to hym apace

She cryed him mercy then,

And pylled the barke even of hys face

With her commaundments ten.

Neist Sanderson fratch'd wid a hay-stack,

And Deavison fught wi' the whins;

Smith Leytle fell out wi' the cobbles,

And peel'd aw the bark off his shins.

Cumberland Ballads.

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