Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SKEW, v.t. [Dan. skiæver, to twist or distort.]

1. To look obliquely upon; to notice slightly. [Not in use.] – Beaum.
2. To shape or form in an oblique way. [Not in use.]

SKEW'BACK, n.

In architecture, the sloping abutment in masonry for the ends of the arched head of an aperture. – Brande.

SKEW'BRIDGE, n.

A kind of bridge upon railroads, when the railway intersects any communication at right angles.

SKEW'ER, n.

A pin of wood or iron for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting. – Dryden.

SKEW'ER, v.t.

To fasten with skewers.

SKEW'ER-ING, ppr.

Fastening with skewers.

SKID, n.

1. A curving timber to preserve a ship's side from injury by heavy bodies hoisted or lowered against it; a slider. – Mar. Dict.
2. A chain used for fastening the wheels of a wagon, to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill. – Encyc.

SKIFF, n. [Fr. esquif; It. schifo; Sp. esquifo; L. scapha; G. schiff; from the same root as skip.]

A small light boat resembling a yawl. – Mar. Dict.

SKIFF, v.t.

To pass over in a light boat.

SKILL, n. [Sax. scylan, to separate, to distinguish; Ice. and Sw. skilia, Dan. skiller, to divide, sever, part; whence shield, that which separates, and hence that which protects or defends; D. scheelen, to differ; schillen, to peel or pare. Scale is from the root of these words, as in shell, Sax. scyl, sceal. In Heb. סכל is foolish, perverse, and as a verb, to pervert, to be foolish or perverse; in Ch. to understand or consider, to look, to regard, to cause to know, whence knowledge, knowing, wise, wisdom, understanding; Rab. to be ignorant or foolish; Syr. to be foolish, to wander in mind, also to cause to understand, to know, to perceive, to discern, also to err, to do wrong, to sin, to fail in duty; whence foolish, folly, ignorance, error, sin, and understanding; Sam. to be wont or accustomed, to look or behold. The same verb with ש, Heb. שבל signifies to understand, to be wise, whence wisdom, understanding, also to waste, to scatter or destroy, to bereave, also to prosper; Ch. to understand; שבלל to complete, to perfect; בלל with a prefix. This signifies also to found, to lay a foundation; Syr. to found, also to finish, complete, adorn, from the same root; Ar. شَكَلَ shakala; to bind or tie, whence Eng. shackles; also to be dark, obscure, intricate, difficult, to form, to make like, to be of a beautiful form, to know, to be ignorant, to agree, suit or become. These verbs appear to be formed on the root בל, בול to hold or restrain, which coincides in signification with the Ch. and Eth. בחל to be able, L. calleo, that is, to strain, stretch, reach, and with כלל to perfect, that is, to make sound, or to reach the utmost limit. The sense of folly, error, sin, perverseness, is from wandering, deviation, Gr. σκολιος; the sense of skill and understanding is from separation, discernment, or from taking, holding or reaching to, for strength and knowledge are allied, and often from tension. The sense of ignorance and error is from wandering or deviation, or perhaps it proceeds from a negative sense given to the primary verb by the prefix, like ex in Latin, and s in Italian. The Arabic sense of binding and shackles is from straining. The Eng. shall and should belong to its family.]

1. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes. Thus we speak of the skill of a mathematician, of a surveyor, of a physician or surgeon, of a mechanic or seaman. So we speak of skill in management or negotiation. – Dryden. Swift.
2. Any particular art. [Not in use.] – Hooker.

SKILL, v.i.

1. To be knowing in; to be dextrous in performance. [Obs.] – Spenser.
2. To differ; to make difference; to matter or be of interest. [Obs.] – Hooker. Bacon. [This is the Teutonic and Gothic sense of the word.]

SKILL, v.t.

To know; to understand. [Obs.]

SKILL'ED, a.

Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in the application of it; familiarly acquainted with; followed by in; as a professor skilled in logic or geometry; one skilled in the art of engraving.

SKIL'LESS, a.

Wanting skill; artless. – Shak.

SKIL'LET, n. [Qu. Fr. ecuelle, ecuellette.]

A small vessel of iron, copper or other metal, with a long handle; used for heating and boiling water and other culinary purposes.

SKILL'FUL, a.

1. Knowing; well versed in any art; hence, dextrous; able in management; able to perform nicely any manual operation in the arts or professions; as, a skillful mechanic; a skillful operator in surgery.
2. Well versed in practice; as, a skillful physician. It is followed by at or in; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing.

SKILL'FUL-LY, adv.

With skill; with nice art; dextrously; as, a machine skillfully made; a ship skillfully managed.

SKILL'FUL-NESS, n.

The quality of possessing skill; dextrousness; ability to perform well in any part or business or to manage affairs with judgment and exactness, or according to good taste or just rules; knowledge and ability derived from experience.

SKIL'LING, n.

A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Local.]

SKILT, n. [See Skill.]

Difference. [Obs.] Cleaveland.

SKIM, n. [a different orthography of Scum; Fr. écume; It. schiuma; G. schaum; D. schuim; Dan. and Sw. skum; Ir. sgeimhim, to skim.]

Scum; the thick matter that forms on the surface of a liquor. [Little used.]

SKIM, v.i.

1. To pass lightly; to glide along in an even smooth course, or without flapping; as, an eagle or hawk skims along the etherial regions.
2. To glide along near the surface; to peas lightly. – Pope.
3. To hasten over superficially or with slight attention. They skim over a science in a superficial survey. – Watts.

SKIM, v.t.

1. To take off the thick gross matter which separates from any liquid substance and collects on the surface; as, to skim milk by taking off the cream.
2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream. – Dryden.
3. To pass near the surface; to brush the surface slightly. The swallow skims the river's wat'ry face. – Dryden.

SKIM'BLE-SCAM'BLE, a. [a duplication of scamble.]

Wandering; disorderly. – Shak. [A low unauthorized word.]

SKIM'COLT-ER, n.

A colter for paring off the surface of land.