Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a merchant who borrows money from his peers in order to meet a note drawn on a bank.

1834		A. Greene Perils of Pearl Street 123: Shinners may be divided into two classes: those who shin from necessity, and those who shin from profit.
1838		J.C. Neal Charcoal Sketches (1865) II 13: ‘Shin it, good man!’ ejaculated a good-natured urchin, ‘shin it as well as you know how!’ The qualification was a good one, Berry not being well calculated for a shinner of the first class.
a.1859		N.Y. Eve. Post n.p.: No ‘short shinner’ feared rebuff, Who sued for pelf [DA].
1872		Schele De Vere Americanisms 305: Coxcombs and dandies, loafers and nibblers, / Shavers and shinners, peddlers and scribblers.