shine
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "shine" is a slang word for moonshine - unaged homemade whiskey, usually clear and strong. It’s short for "moonshine" and a staple of mountain talk.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll definitely hear it called 'shine' around here. But not like anybody's ever had any. Pronunciation
[SHYN]
Meaning & Usage
- Moonshine liquor (noun/dialect)
Mae:
What’s that?
What’s that?
Earl:
Homemade shine - smooth as can be.
Homemade shine - smooth as can be.- To refer generally to illicit or home-distilled alcohol (noun)
Mae:
He’s known for his shine up in those hills.
He’s known for his shine up in those hills.other spellings: moonshine
★ "Shine" is the shorthand that insiders use. "Moonshine" might be for tourists; "shine" is what the folks makin’ it or drinkin’ it actually say. ★
Origin
From "moonshine," which itself referred to liquor made at night by the light of the moon. In Appalachian and Southern speech the first syllable was dropped to form "shine." Documented in regional songs, folklore, and bootlegging stories throughout the 20th century.
Notes
Still widely used today - both in authentic mountain communities and in branding of legal craft distilleries. Recognized outside the South/Appalachia but still strongly associated with mountain culture.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "shine." Often with a descriptor: "white lightning shine," "apple pie shine."