Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Skēr'ry, n. p. 1237A rocky isle; a detached or insulated rock.Skĕtch, n. p. 1237An outline or general delineation of any thing; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; as, the sketch of a building; the sketch of an essay. Sketch-book, a book for sketches or…Skĕtch, v. t. p. 1237To draw the outline or general figure of; to make a rough draught of. 2. To plan by giving the principal points or ideas of. Syn. — To delineate; design; draught; depict; portray; paint.Skĕtch'er, n. p. 1237One who sketches.Skĕtch'i-ly, adv. p. 1237In a sketchy or incomplete manner. “Sketchily descriptive.” Bartlett.Skĕtch'i-ness, n. p. 1237The state of being sketchy; incompleteness.Skĕtch'y, a. p. 1238Containing only an outline or rough form; in the manner of a sketch; incomplete. The anatomy of the whole figure is magnificently developed, the limbs appearing to be almost animated by muscular…Skew, adv. p. 1238Awry; obliquely. See ASKEW.Skew, a. p. 1238Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; oblique;—chiefly used in composition.Skew, v. t. p. 1238To look obliquely upon; to notice slightly. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. 2. To shape or form in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position. 3. To throw or hurl obliquely.Skew, v. i. p. 1238To walk obliquely. 2. To start aside; to sheer or shy, as a horse.Skew'-ärch, n. p. 1238An arch which is not at right angles to its abutments;—called also skewed arch.Skew'-băck, n. p. 1238(Civil engin.) The course of masonry forming the abutment for the voussoirs of a segmental arch, or, in iron bridges, for the ribs. Eng. Cyc.Skew'-bald, a. p. 1238The same as PIE-BALD. [Obs.] “Skew-bald horse.” Cleaveland.Skew'-bridge, n. p. 1238A bridge constructed with a skew-arch, or set obliquely to its abutments; a kind of bridge often used where a railroad intersects a stream, canal, or another road obliquely.Skew'er, n. p. 1238A pointed rod of wood or iron for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting;—formerly used instead of pins. A man . . . in a blanket and skewer. Dickens.Skew'er, v. t. p. 1238To fasten with skewers.Skëyne, n. p. 1238See SKEAN.Skĭd, n. p. 1238(Naut.) A piece of timber placed up and down the side of a vessel, to preserve it from injury by heavy bodies hoisted or lowered against it. Totten. 2. A chain used for fastening the wheel of a…Skid, v. t. p. 1238To check with a skid, as wheels in going down hill. Dickens.Skiff, n. p. 1238A small, light boat. “The pilot of some night-foundered skiff.” Milton.Skiff, v. t. p. 1238To sail upon in a skiff.Skil'der, v. i. p. 1238To beg; to pilfer; to skelder. [Scot. and Prov. Eng.] Sir W. Scott.Skil'ful, a. p. 1238See SKILLFUL.Skĭll, n. p. 1238Knowledge; understanding. That by his fellowship he color might Both his estate and love from skill of any wight. Spenser. Nor want we skill or art. Milton. 2. The familiar knowledge of any art or…Skĭll, v. t. p. 1238To know; to understand. [Obs.] “To skill the arts of expressing our mind.” Barrow.Skĭll, v. i. p. 1238To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.] I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert. He can not skill to keep a stock going upon that trade. Milton. 2. To differ…Skĭlled, a. p. 1238Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful;— followed by in; as, a person skilled in logic or geometry.Skil'let, n. p. 1238A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for heating and boiling water, and other culinary purposes.Skill'ful, a. p. 1238Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; — often followed by at or in: as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing. [Written…Skill'ful-ly, adv. p. 1238In a skillful manner; with skill; with nice art; dexterously; as, a machine skillfully made; a ship skillfully managed.Skill'ful-ness, n. p. 1238The quality of possessing skill; dexterousness; knowledge and ability derived from experience.Skĭl'ling, n. p. 1238A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage.Skill'ling, n. p. 1238A money of account in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, worth about one cent.Skill'-less, a. p. 1238Wanting skill; artless. Shak.Skĭlt, n. p. 1238Difference. [Obs.]Skĭlts, n. pl. p. 1238A kind of large, coarse trowsers formerly worn, reaching just below the knee. [Local U. S.] Bartlett.Skĭm, n. p. 1238The thick matter that forms on the surface of a liquor; scum. [Rare.]Skĭm, v. t. p. 1238To clear, as a liquid, from substance floating thereon, by an instrument that dips under and passes along the surface; as, to skim milk. 2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream. 3. To pass near…Skĭm, v. i. p. 1238To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface. Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. Pope.…Skĭm'ble-scăm/ble, a. p. 1238Wandering; disorderly; rambling; unconnected. [Colloq. and low.] “Such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff.” Shak.Skĭm'-cōl/ter, n. p. 1238A colter for paring off the surface of land.Skĭm'i-try, n. p. 1238See SKIMMINGTON.Skĭm'mer, n. p. 1238A utensil for skimming liquors. 2. One who skims over a subject. 3. A web-footed water-fowl; the shearwater. See SHEARWATER.Skĭm'mer-ton, n. p. 1238See SKIMMINGTON.Skĭm'-milk, n. p. 1238Milk from which the cream has been taken; skimmed milk.Skĭm'ming, n. p. 1238The act of taking off that which floats upon a liquid, as scum, cream, or the like. 2. That which is removed from the surface of a liquid by skimming; scum; — chiefly used in the plural.Skĭm'ming-ly, adv. p. 1238By skimming or gliding along the surface.Skĭm'ming-ton, n. p. 1238A word of unknown signification, but probably the name of some notorious scold of olden time; — used only in the following phrase: — To ride skimmington, to perform a burlesque ceremony in ridicule…Skĭn, n. p. 1238(Physiol.) The external membranous envelope of animal bodies. ☞ In man, the skin is composed of two layers: the corium, cutis vera, or true skin, and the epidermis, cuticle, or scarf-skin. The true…Skĭn, v. t. p. 1238To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel. 2. To cover with skin, or as with skin; to cover superficially. It does but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.Skĭn, v. i. p. 1238To be covered with skin; as, a wound skins over. 2. To produce, in recitation or other school exercise, the work of another for one's own;—in colloquial use in the schools and colleges of the United…Skĭnch, v. i. p. 1238To give scant measure; to squeeze or pinch in order to effect a saving. [Prov. Eng.]Skĭn'-deep, a. p. 1238Superficial; slight. Feltham.Skĭn'flĭnt, n. p. 1238A very penurious person; a miser; a niggard.Skĭn'ful, n. p. 1238All that can be held by the skin; as, a skinful of liquor.Skĭnk, n. p. 1238Drink; pottage. [Obs.] Bacon. 2. [Lat. scincus, Gr. σκίγκος.] (Zoöl.) A kind of lizard, of which one species (the Scincus officinalis), was considered by the ancients a sort of universal medicine. It…Skĭnk, v. i. p. 1238To serve drink; to draw liquor. [Obs.] Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. Shirley.Skĭnk'er, n. p. 1238One who serves liquors. [Obs.]Skĭn'less, a. p. 1238Having no skin, or a very thin skin; as, skinless fruit.