3. (Naut.) The after part of the keel of a vessel, to which the rudder
is attached.
Skeg"ger (?), n. (Zoöl.) The parr. Walton.
Skein (?), n. [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. écagne, probably of Celtic
origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or
perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.] 1. A quantity of
yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the
reel, -- usually tied in a sort of knot.
A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a
fifty-four inch reel.
2. (Wagon Making) A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the
wooden arm of an axle. Knight.
Skein, n. (Zoöl.) A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like).
[Prov. Eng.]
Skeine (?), n. See Skean.
Skel"der (?), v. t. & i. [Etymol. uncertain.] To deceive; to cheat; to
trick. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Skel"der, n. A vagrant; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
{ Skel"drake` (?), or Skiel"drake` (?) }, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common
European sheldrake. (b) The oyster catcher.
Skel"et (?), n. A skeleton. See Scelet.
Skel"e*tal (?), a. Pertaining to the skeleton.
Skel`e*tog"e*nous (?), a. [Skeleton + -genous.] Forming or producing
parts of the skeleton.
Skel`e*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Skeleton + -logy.] That part of anatomy which
treats of the skeleton; also, a treatise on the skeleton.
Skel"e*ton (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; (sc. &?;&?;&?;) a dried
body, a mummy, fr. &?;&?;&?;&?; dried up, parched, &?;&?;&?;&?; to dry,
dry up, parch.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework
which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal. [See Illust. of
the Human Skeleton, in Appendix.] (b) The more or less firm or hardened
framework of an invertebrate animal.
In a wider sense, the skeleton includes the whole connective-tissue
framework with the integument and its appendages. See Endoskeleton, and
Exoskeleton.
2. Hence, figuratively: (a) A very thin or lean person. (b) The
framework of anything; the principal parts that support the rest, but
without the appendages.
The great skeleton of the world.
Sir M. Hale.
(c) The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a
sermon.
Skel"e*ton, a. Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting
merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading
features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal.
Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or
payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.] -- Skeleton key, a key with
nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid
the wards of a lock; a master key; -- used for opening locks to which
it has not been especially fitted. -- Skeleton leaf, a leaf from which
the pulpy part has been removed by chemical means, the fibrous part
alone remaining. -- Skeleton proof, a proof of a print or engraving,
with the inscription outlined in hair strokes only, such proofs being
taken before the engraving is finished. -- Skeleton regiment, a
regiment which has its complement of officers, but in which there are
few enlisted men. -- Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), a small crustacean of the
genus Caprella. See Illust. under Læmodipoda.
Skel"e*ton*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skeletonized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Skeletonizing (?).] To prepare a skeleton of; also, to reduce, as a
leaf, to its skeleton. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
Skel"e*ton*i`zer (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any small moth whose larva eats the
parenchyma of leaves, leaving the skeleton; as, the apple-leaf
skeletonizer.
Skel"lum (?), n. [Dan. schelm, fr. G. schelm.] A scoundrel. [Obs. or
Scot.] Pepys. Burns.
Skel"ly (?), v. i. [Cf. Dan. skele, Sw. skela.] To squint. [Prov. Eng.
& Scot.] Sir W. Scott.