Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Skĭr'mish-er, n. p. 1239One who skirmishes; one of such troops as are sent forward in advance, or move deployed in loose order on the flanks of a marching column, to discover and intercept hostile forces.Skīrr, v. t. p. 1239To ramble over in order to clear; to scour. [Obs.] Shak.Skĭrr, v. i. p. 1239To scour; to scud; to run hastily. [Obs.]Skĭr'ret, n. p. 1239(Bot.) A plant (the Sium Sisarum), a native of China, Cochin-china, Corea, Japan, &c. It has been cultivated in Europe for the sake of its esculent root, which somewhat resembles the parsnip in…Skĭr’rhus, n. p. 1239See SCIRRHUS.Skirt, n. p. 1239The lower and loose part of a coat or other garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat or mantle. 2. The edge of any part of dress. “A small skirt of ruffled linen, which runs along…Skĭrt, v. t. p. 1239To border; to form the border or edge of; or to run along the edge of; as, a plain skirted by rows of trees. “When sundown skirts the morn.” Tennyson.Skĩrt, v. i. p. 1239To be on the border; to live near the extremity. “Savages . . . who skirt along our western frontiers.” S. S. Smith.Skĩrt'ing or Skĩrt'ing-bōard, n. p. 1239(Arch.) The narrow, vertical board placed round the margin of a floor; mop-board; wash-board. Gwilt.Skĩrt'ing, n. p. 1239Skirts taken collectively; material for skirts.Skĭt, n. p. 1239A wanton girl; a light wench. 2. A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a whim. Tooke.Skit, v. t. p. 1239To cast reflections on; to asperse. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Skit'tish, a. p. 1239Easily frightened; shunning familiarity; timorous; shy. “A restiff, skittish jade.” L'Estrange. 2. Wanton; volatile; hasty. 3. Changeable; fickle. “Skittish Fortune.” Shak.Skit'tish-ly, adv. p. 1239In a skittish manner; shyly; wantonly; changeably.Skit'tish-ness, n. p. 1239The state of being skittish; aptness to fear approach; timidity; shyness. 2. Fickleness; wantonness.Skit'tle-ball, n. p. 1239A disk or flat ball of hard wood for throwing at skittles or ninepins. Simmonds.Skĭt'tles, n. pl. p. 1239Nine-pins.Skive, n. p. 1239The iron lap used by diamond-polishers in finishing the facets of the gem. Simmonds.Ski'ver, n. p. 1239An inferior quality of leather, made of split sheep-skin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed. It is used for hat-linings, pocket-books, book-binding, and other purposes. Simmonds.Skīre, v. t. p. 1239To shelter or protect; to cover. [Obs.]Skŏl'e-çite, n. p. 1239See SCOLECITE.Sko-lōps'ite, n. p. 1239(Min.) A mineral of a grayish-white or reddish-gray color, consisting chiefly of silica, alumina, lime, and soda. Dana.Skōnce, n. p. 1239The same as SCONCE. See SCONCE.Skōr'o-dīte, n. p. 1239(Min.) A native compound of arsenic acid and oxide of iron, having a leek-green or brownish color. See SCORODITE. Dana.Skout, n. p. 1239(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Uria, the guillemot. See GUILLEMOT.Skow, n. p. 1239The same as Scow. See Scow.Skreed, n. p. 1239Floating ice in small fragments. Kane.Skreen, n. & v. p. 1239See SCREEN.Skrim'mage, n. p. 1239See SCRIMMAGE.Skrimp'y, a. p. 1239Disposed to scrimp; mean; stingy. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. U. S.]Skringe, v. t. p. 1239To press violently. See SCRINGE.Skūe, a. & n. p. 1239The same as SKEW. See SKEW.Skāe'sight, n. p. 1239(Med.) Defective vision, in which objects can be distinctly seen only when looked at obliquely. Dunglison.Skŭg, v. t. p. 1239To hide. [Prov. Eng.]Skŭlk, v. i. p. 1239To get out of the way in a sneaking manner; to lurk. “And skulk behind the subterfuge of art.” Prior. “Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace.” Byron.Skŭlk, n. p. 1239A number of foxes together; a herd of foxes. Wright.Skŭlk or Skŭlk'er, n. p. 1239A person who skulks; one who avoids duty; a lurker; a shirk.Skŭlk'ing-ly, adv. p. 1239In a skulking manner.Skŭll, n. p. 1239(Anat.) The bony case which incloses the brain, composed of a number of bones united by sutures, and including the solid organs of manducation. ☞ It is regarded by many osteologists as corresponding…Skŭll, n. p. 1239A school, company, or shoal. [Obs.] These fishes enter in great flotes and skulls into the sea Pontus. Holland. A knavish skull of boys and girls did pelt at him with stones. Albion's England.Skŭll'-cäp, n. p. 1239A head-piece; a close-fitting cap. 2. (Bot.) An herbaceous plant of the genus Scutellaria, the calyx of whose flower, when inverted, appears like a helmet with the vizor raised.Skŭll'-fish, n. p. 1239An old whale, or one more than two years old;—so called by whalers. Simmonds.Skŭl'pin, n. p. 1239The same as SCULPIN. See SCULPIN.Skŭm, n. p. 1239The same as SCUM. See SCUM.Skūnk, n. p. 1239(Zool.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Mephitis, found over a very wide extent of country in North America. It is nearly allied to the weasel on the one hand, and to the otter on the other. This…Skŭnk'-bĭrd or Skŭnk'-blăck'bĭrd, n. p. 1239(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Emberiza (E. oryzivora of Linnæus); the bobolink or rice-bird; — popularly so called from the resemblance of the colors of the male, at certain periods of the year, to…Skŭnk'-câb'bâge, n. p. 1239(Bot.) An endogenous plant Symplocarpus (or Ictodes) foetidus, so named from its odor, which strongly resembles that of the skunk. It has large leaves, and grows in low wet grounds in America.…Skûŋk'-hēad, n. p. 1239(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Anas (A. Labradora of Wilson); pied duck.Skûŋk'ish, a. p. 1239Resembling the skunk; especially, having the odor of a skunk.Skŭnk'-weed, n. p. 1239(Bot.) Skunk-cabbage.Skūr'ry, n. p. 1239Haste; impetuosity. Brockett.Skūte, n. p. 1239A boat; a small vessel. [Obs.]Skūt'te-ru-dite, n. p. 1239(Min.) A mineral of a bright metallic luster, sometimes iridescent, of a color between tin-white and pale lead-gray, consisting chiefly of arsenic and cobalt. Dana.Sky, n. p. 1239The apparent arch or vault of heaven, which in a clear day is of a blue color; the heavens. The Norwegian banners float the sky. Shak. 2. The weather; the climate. 3. A cloud; a shadow. [Obs.] Gower.…Skÿ'-blûe, a. p. 1239Of the blue color of the sky.Skÿ'-cŏl'or, n. p. 1239The color of the sky; a particular species of blue color; azure.Skȳed, a. p. 1239Surrounded by sky. [Poet. and rare.] “The skyed mountain.” Thomson.Sky'ey, a. p. 1239Like the sky; ethereal. Sublime on the towers of my skyey bowers, Lightning, my pilot, sits. Shelley.Sky'-high, adv. p. 1239High as the sky; very high;— often, colloquial or vulgar; as, he blew him sky-high.Skÿ'ish, a. p. 1239Like the sky, or approaching the sky; lofty; ethereal. [Rare.] The skyish head Of blue Olympus. Shak.