English

Noun

shimmy ‎(plural shimmies)

1. A dance movement involving thrusting the shoulders back and forth alternately.
2. An abnormal vibration, especially in the wheels of a vehicle.
3. A dance that was popular in the 1920s.
4. (rare) A sleeveless chemise.

Translations

Verb

shimmy ‎(third-person singular simple present shimmies, present participle shimmying, simple past and past participle shimmied)

1. (dance) To perform a shimmy (dance movement involving thrusting the shoulders back and forth alternately).
2. To climb something (e.g. a pole) gradually (e.g. using alternately one's arms then one's legs).

   He shimmied up the flagpole.

   The static made her dress shimmy up her leg.

3. (intransitive) To vibrate abnormally, as a broken wheel.
4. (intransitive, rare) To shake the body as if dancing the shimmy.
5. (intransitive, video games) To move across a narrow ledge, either by hanging from it or by strafing on it along the wall.
   • 2009, Allison Schubert, Lunabean.com's Videogame Guides of 2008: Adventure 3-Pack

     Jump up to the ledge on your right and shimmy around the corner.

   • 1999, Prima Development, The Big Playstation Book

     Climb on top of the room and drop down to shimmy along its back ledge.

Synonyms

• (climb a pole): shinny, shin (UK, Canada)

Translations