Mad-dog skullcap (Bot.), an American herb (Scetellaria lateriflora)
formerly prescribed as a cure for hydrophobia.
Skull"fish` (?), n. A whaler's name for a whale more than two years
old.
Skul"pin (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Sculpin.
Skun (?), n. & v. See Scum.
Skunk (?), n. [Contr. from the Abenaki (American Indian) seganku.]
(Zoöl.) Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of
the genus Mephitis and allied genera. They have two glands near the
anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at
pleasure as a means of defense.
The common species of the Eastern United States (Mephitis mephitica) is
black with more or less white on the body and tail. The spotted skunk
(Spilogale putorius), native of the Southwestern United States and
Mexico, is smaller than the common skunk, and is variously marked with
black and white.
Skunk bird, Skunk blackbird (Zoöl.), the bobolink; -- so called because
the male, in the breeding season, is black and white, like a skunk. --
Skunk cabbage (Bot.), an American aroid herb (Symplocarpus fœtidus>)
having a reddish hornlike spathe in earliest spring, followed by a
cluster of large cabbagelike leaves. It exhales a disagreeable odor.
Also called swamp cabbage. -- Skunk porpoise. (Zoöl.) See under
Porpoise.
Skunk, v. t. In games of chance and skill: To defeat (an opponent) (as
in cards) so that he fails to gain a point, or (in checkers) to get a
king. [Colloq. U. S.]
Skunk"ball` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The surf duck.
Skunk"head` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The surf duck. (b) A duck (Camptolaimus
Labradorus) which formerly inhabited the Atlantic coast of New England.
It is now supposed to be extinct. Called also Labrador duck, and pied
duck.
Skunk"ish, a. Like the skunk, especially in odor.
Skunk"top` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The surf duck.
Skunk"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Skunk cabbage.
Skur"ry (?), n. & v. See Scurry.
Skute (?), n. [Icel. sk&?;ta; akin to Sw. skuta, Dan. skude, D. schuit,
Lg. schüte, and E. schoot, v.t.] A boat; a small vessel. [Obs.] Sir R.
Williams.
Skut"ter*ud*ite (?), n. [From Skutterud, in Norway, whence it is
obtained.] (Min.) A mineral of a bright metallic luster and tin-white
to pale lead- gray color. It consists of arsenic and cobalt.
Sky (sk), n.; pl. Skies (skz). [OE. skie a cloud, Icel. sk; akin to Sw.
& Dan. sky; cf. AS. sca, scwa, shadow, Icel. skuggi; probably from the
same root as E. scum. √158. See Scum, and cf. Hide skin,
Obscure.] 1. A cloud. [Obs.]
[A wind] that blew so hideously and high, That it ne lefte not a
sky In all the welkin long and broad.
Chaucer.