SKIFF, skif, _adj._ (_prov._) distorted: awkward.
SKILL, skil, _n._ knowledge of anything: dexterity in practice.--_v.i._ to
understand, to be dexterous in: to make a difference, to signify.--_adj._
SKIL'FUL, having or displaying skill: dexterous.--_adv._ SKIL'FULLY.--_n._
SKIL'FULNESS.--_adjs._ SKILLED, having skill: skilful: expert; SKIL'LESS
(_Shak._), wanting skill, artless. [Scand., as Ice. _skil_, a distinction,
_skilja_, to separate.]
SKILLET, skil'et, _n._ a small metal vessel with a long handle, used for
boiling water, in cooking, &c. [Prob. from O. Fr. _escuellette_, dim of
_escuelle_ (Fr. _écuelle_)--L. _scutella_, dim. of _scutra_, a dish.]
SKILLIGALEE, skil-i-ga-l[=e]', _n._ thin watery soup.--Also SKILLIGOLEE',
SKILL'Y. [Ety. dub.]
SKILLING, skil'ing, _n._ a small coin formerly current in North Germany and
Scandinavia, in value from ¼d. to 1d. [Dan.]
SKILTS, skilts, _n.pl._ short loose trousers.
SKILVINGS, skil'vingz, _n.pl._ (_prov._) the rails of a cart.
SKIM, skim, _v.t._ to clear off scum: to take off by skimming: to brush the
surface of lightly.--_v.i._ to pass over lightly: to glide along near the
surface: to become coated over:--_pr.p._ skim'ming; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._
skimmed.--_n._ the act of skimming: what is skimmed off.--_ns._ SKIM'MER, a
utensil for skimming milk: a bird that skims the water; SKIM'-MILK, skimmed
milk: milk from which the cream has been skimmed; SKIM'MING, the act of
taking off that which floats on the surface of a liquid, as cream: that
which is taken off, scum.--_adv._ SKIM'MINGLY, by skimming along the
surface. [_Scum_.]
SKIMBLE-SKAMBLE, skim'bl-skam'bl, _adj._ wandering, wild, rambling,
incoherent.--_adv._ in a confused manner. [A reduplication of _scamble_.]
SKIMMINGTON, skim'ing-ton, _n._ a burlesque procession intended to ridicule
a henpecked husband: a riot generally.--Also SKIM'INGTON, SKIM'MERTON,
SKIM'ITRY. [Ety. unknown.]
SKIMP, skimp, _v.t._ to give scanty measure, to stint: to do a thing
imperfectly.--_v.i._ to be parsimonious.--_adj._ scanty, spare.--_adj._
SKIM'PING, sparing: meagre: done inefficiently.--_adv._
SKIM'PINGLY.--_adj._ SKIM'PY. [A variant of _scamp_.]
SKIN, skin, _n._ the natural outer covering of an animal body: a hide: the
bark or rind of plants, &c.: the inside covering of the ribs of a ship: a
drink of whisky hot.--_v.t._ to cover with skin: to cover the surface of:
to strip the skin from, to peel: to plunder, cheat: to answer an
examination paper, &c., by unfair means.--_v.i._ to become covered with
skin: to sneak off:--_pr.p._ skin'ning; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._
skinned.--_adj._ SKIN'-DEEP, as deep as the skin only: superficial.--_ns._
SKIN'FLINT, one who takes the smallest gains: a very niggardly person;
SKIN'FUL, as much as one can hold, esp. of liquor.--_adj._ SKIN'LESS,
having no skin, or a very thin one.--_ns._ SKIN'NER; SKIN'NINESS.--_adjs._
SKIN'NY, consisting of skin or of skin only: wanting flesh; SKIN'-TIGHT,
fitting close to the skin.--_n._ SKIN'-WOOL, wool pulled from the skin of a
dead sheep.--BY, or WITH, THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, very narrowly; CLEAN
SKINS, unbranded cattle; SAVE ONE'S SKIN, to escape without injury. [A.S.
_scinn_; Ice. _skinn_, skin, Ger. _schinden_, to flay.]
SKINK, skingk, _n._ drink.--_v.i._ and _v.t._ to serve drink.--_n._
SKINK'ER, one who serves drink, a tapster.--_adj._ SKINK'ING (_Scot._),
thin, watery. [A.S. _scencan_, to pour out drink; Ger. _schenken_.]
SKINK, skingk, _n._ an African lizard. [L. _scincus_--Gr. _skingkos_, the
adda.]
SKINK, skingk, _n._ (_Scot._) a shin-bone of beef, soup made from such.
[Cf. Dut. _schonk_, a bone; cf. _Shank_.]
SKIO, sky[=o], _n._ in Orkney, a fisherman's hut.--Also SKEO. [Norw.
_skjaa_, a shed.]
SKIP, skip, _v.i._ to leap: to bound lightly and joyfully: to pass
over.--_v.t._ to leap over: to omit:--_pr.p._ skip'ping; _pa.t._ and
_pa.p._ skipped.--_n._ a light leap: a bound: the omission of a part: the
captain of a side at bowls and curling: a college servant.--_ns._
SKIP'JACK, an impudent fellow: the blue-fish, saurel, &c.; SKIP'-KEN'NEL,
one who has to jump the gutters, a lackey; SKIP'PER, one who skips: a
dancer: (_Shak._) a young thoughtless person: a hesperian
butterfly.--_adj._ SKIP'PING, flighty, giddy.--_adv._ SKIP'PINGLY, in a
skipping manner: by skips or leaps.--_n._ SKIP'PING-ROPE, a rope used in
skipping. [Either Celt., according to Skeat, from Ir. _sgiob_, to snatch,
Gael. _sgiab_, to move suddenly, W. _ysgipio_, to snatch away; or Teut.,
conn. with Ice. _skopa_, to run.]
SKIP, skip, _n._ an iron box for raising ore running between guides, or in
inclined shafts fitted with wheels to run on a track, a mine-truck.
SKIPETAR, skip'e-tär, _n._ an Albanian: the Albanian language. [Albanian
_skipetar_, a mountaineer.]
SKIPPER, skip'[.e]r, _n._ the master of a merchant-ship.--SKIPPER'S
DAUGHTERS, white-topped waves. [Dut. _schipper_; Dan. _skipper_.]
SKIPPER, skip'[.e]r, _n._ a barn, a shed in which to shelter for the
night.--_v.i._ to shelter in such a place.--_n._ SKIPP'ER-BIRD, a tramp.
[Prob. W. _ysguber_, a barn.]
SKIPPET, skip'et, _n._ (_Spens._) a small boat. [Dim. of A.S. _scip_,
ship.]
SKIPPET, skip'et, _n._ a round flat box for holding a seal, which used to
be attached to the parchment by ribbons passing through the lid.
SKIRL, skirl, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_Scot._) to shriek shrilly.--_n._ a shrill
cry.--_n._ SKIR'LING, a shrill sound.
SKIRMISH, sk[.e]r'mish, _n._ an irregular fight between two small parties:
a contest.--_v.i._ to fight slightly or irregularly.--_ns._ SKIR'MISHER, a
soldier belonging to troops dispersed to cover front or flank, and prevent
surprises; SKIR'MISHING. [O. Fr. _escarmouche_--Old High Ger. _skerman_,
_scirman_, to fight.]
SKIRR, sk[.e]r, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to ramble over, to scour.--_v.i._ to run
in haste. [_Scurry_.]
SKIRRET, skir'et, _n._ an edible water-parsnip: a perennial plant, native
to China and Japan. [_Sugar-root_.]
SKIRT, sk[.e]rt, _n._ the part of a garment below the waist: a woman's
garment like a petticoat: the edge of any part of the dress: border:
margin: extreme part.--_v.t._ to border: to form the edge of.--_v.i._ to be
on the border: to live near the extremity.--_ns._ SKIRT'-DANC'ING, a form
of ballet-dancing in which the flowing skirts are waved about in the hands;
SKIR'TER, a huntsman who dodges his jumps by going round about; SKIR'TING,
strong material made up in lengths for women's skirts: skirting-board;
SKIR'TING-BOARD, the narrow board next the floor round the walls of a
room.--DIVIDED SKIRT, a skirt in the form of loose trousers. [Scand., Ice.
_skyrta_, a shirt. A doublet of _shirt_.]
SKIT, skit, _n._ any sarcastic squib, lampoon, or pamphlet. [Ice. _skúti_,
a taunt.]
SKITE, sk[=i]t, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to glide or slip--also SKYTE.--_n._ a
sudden blow: a trick.--_vs.i._ SKIT, to leap aside: to caper; SKIT'TER, to
skim lightly over: to void thin excrement: to draw a baited hook along the
surface of water. [Scand., Sw. _skutta_, to leap, _skjuta_, to shoot.]
SKITTISH, skit'ish, _adj._ unsteady, light-headed, easily frightened:
hasty, volatile, changeable: wanton.--_adv._ SKITT'ISHLY.--_n._
SKITT'ISHNESS. [_Skite_.]
SKITTLES, skit'lz, _n.pl._ a game of ninepins in which a flattened ball or
thick rounded disc is thrown to knock down the pins--played in a
SKITT'LE-ALL'EY, or -GROUND. In American Bowls, the game is played with ten
pins arranged in the form of a triangle, the missile being rolled along a
carefully constructed wooden floor.--_v.t._ SKITT'LE, to knock down.--n
SKITT'LE-BALL, the ball thrown in playing at skittles. [A variant of
_shittle_ or _shuttle_.]
SKIVER, sk[=i]'v[.e]r, _n._ a kind of leather made of split sheep-skins,
used for bookbinding, &c.--_n._ a machine for skiving leather.--_v.t._
SKIVE, to cut, pare off.--_n._ SK[=I]'VING, the act of skiving: a piece
skived off--of leather, usually on the flesh side. [From root of _shive_,
_shiver_.]
SKIVER, sk[=i]'v[.e]r, _v.t._ (_prov._) to run through, to skewer.
SKIVIE, skiv'i, _adj._ (_Scot._) deranged: askew.
SKLENT, a Scotch form of _slant_.
SKOAL, sk[=o]l, _interj._ hail! a friendly exclamation of salutation before
drinking, &c. [Ice. _skál_; Norw. _skaal_, a bowl, Sw. _skål_.]
SKOLION, sk[=o]'li-on, _n._ a short drinking-song in ancient Greece, taken
up by the guests in turn:--_pl._ SK[=O]'LIA. [Gr.]
SKRIMMAGE. Same as SCRIMMAGE.
SKRYER, skr[=i]'[.e]r, _n._ one who uses the divining-glass.
SKUA, sk[=u]'a, _n._ a bird of the family _Laridæ_, esp. the Great Skua
(_Stercorarius catarrhactes_), a rapacious bird about two feet long, the
plumage predominantly brown, breeding in the Shetlands.--_n._
SK[=U]'A-GULL. [Norw.]
SKUE, sk[=u], an obsolete form of _skew_.
SKUG, SCUG, skug, _n._ (prov.) shelter.--_v.t._ to shelter: to
expiate.--_n._ SKUG'GERY, SCUG'GERY, secrecy.--_adjs._ SKUG'GY, SCUG'GY,
shady. [Ice. _skuggi_, a shade.]
SKUG, skug, _n._ (_prov._) a squirrel.
SKULDUDDERY. See SCULDUDDERY.
SKULK, skulk, _v.i._ to sneak out of the way: to lurk.--_ns._ SKULK,
SKULK'ER, one who skulks.--_adv._ SKULK'INGLY.--_n._ SKULK'ING-PLACE.
[Scand., as in Dan. _skulke_, to sneak; conn. with Ice. _skjöl_, cover,
hiding-place; also with Eng. _scowl_.]
SKULL, skul, _n._ the bony case that encloses the brain: the head, the
sconce, noddle: a crust formed on the ladle, &c., by the partial cooling of
molten metal: in armour, the crown of the head-piece: (_Scot._) a shallow,
bow-handled basket.--_n._ SKULL'CAP, a cap which fits closely to the head:
the sinciput.--_adj._ SKULL'-LESS.--SKULL AND CROSS-BONES, a symbolic
emblem of death and decay. [Ice. _skál_, a shell; conn. with _shell_ and
_scale_, a thin plate.]
SKULPIN=_Sculpin_.
SKUNK, skungk, _n._ a small North American carnivorous quadruped allied to
the otter and weasel, defending itself by emitting an offensive fluid: a
low fellow: (_U.S._) a complete defeat.--_v.t._ to inflict such.--_ns._
SKUNK'-BIRD, -BLACK'BIRD, the male bobolink in full plumage. [Indian
_seganku_.]
SKUPSHTINA, skoopsh'ti-na, _n._ the national assembly of Servia, having one
chamber and 178 deputies, three-fourths elected and one-fourth nominated by
the crown.--GREAT SKUPSHTINA, specially elected for discussing graver
questions.
SKURRY=_Scurry_.
SKY, sk[=i], _n._ the apparent canopy over our heads: the heavens: the
weather: the upper rows of pictures in a gallery.--_v.t._ to raise aloft,
esp. to hang pictures above the line of sight.--_adjs._ SKY'-BLUE, blue
like the sky; SKY'-BORN, of heavenly birth.--_n._ SKY'-COL'OUR, the colour
of the sky.--_adjs._ SKY'-COL'OURED, blue, azure; SKYED, surrounded by sky;
SKY'EY, like the sky: ethereal; SKY'-HIGH, very high; SKY'ISH (_Shak._),
like or approaching the sky, lofty.--_n._ SKY'LARK, a species of lark that
mounts high towards the sky and sings on the wing.--_v.i._ to engage in any
kind of boisterous frolic.--_ns._ SKY'LARKING, running about the rigging of
a ship in sport: frolicking; SKY'-LIGHT, a window in a roof or ceiling
towards the sky for the admission of light; SKY'LINE, the horizon;
SKY'-PAR'LOUR, a lofty attic; SKY'-P[=I]'LOT, a clergyman.--_adj._
SKY'-PLANT'ED, placed in the sky.--_n._ SKY'-ROCK'ET, a rocket that ascends
high towards the sky and burns as it flies.--_v.i._ to move like a
sky-rocket, to rise and disappear as suddenly.--_ns._ SKY'SAIL, the sail
above the royal; SKY'SCAPE, a view of a portion of the sky, or a picture of
the same; SKY'-SCR[=A]P'ER, a sky-sail of a triangular shape: anything
shooting high into the sky.--_adj._ SKY'-TINC'TURED, of the colour of the
sky.--_adv._ SKY'WARD, toward the sky. [Ice. _ský_, a cloud; akin to A.S.
_scúa_, Gr. _skia_, a shadow.]