• SKIP
n. 1. 50 goat skins …1688 obs.
n. 2. a footman, lackey, or manservant; in later use, a college-servant at Trinity College, Dublin …1698-1700
n. 3. a skipper (a captain, leader, etc.) …1830 UK
n. 4. a beehive; a hive of bees …1901 Amer. dial.
n. 5. nothing to eat …1939 Amer. dial.
n. 6. a hasty or unceremonious departure …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 7. a very light fall of snow …1967 Amer. dial.
n. 8. a coach …1970 US sl.
n. 9. an Anglo-Australian …1987 Aust.
n. 10. a uniformed police sergeant …2002 UK sl.
vb. 1. to hasten, to hurry, to move lightly and rapidly; to make off, to abscond …1338
vb. 2. to flee the country …1884 US colloq.
vb. 3. to stay away from school without permission …1900 US sl.
vb. 4. of a bullet: to graze …1937 Amer. dial.
• SKIP ALONG
vb. 1. to depart hurriedly …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
vb. 2. to go fast …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SKIP-AND-HOP
n. the game of hopscotch …1965 Amer. dial.
• SKIP-BRAIN
adj. flighty, harebrained …1603
• SKIP-FROG
n. the game of leapfrog …1727 obs.
• SKIP-HOP
n. the game of hopscotch …1965 Amer. dial.
• SKIP ICE
n. the first thin ice that forms over the surface of a pond or pool …1969 Amer. dial.
• SKIP IT
vb. to forget it, to drop the subject; to dispense with something …1934 US sl.
• SKIPJACK
adj. 1. flighty, affected, foppish …1598
adj. 2. hopping, jumping, skipping …1605
n. 1. a pert, shallow-brained fellow; a young, impudent person; a conceited fop or dandy; an upstart …1554 arch.
n. 2. a horse-dealer’s boy …1608 obs.
• SKIPJACKLY
adj. flighty, affected, foppish …1674 rare
• SKIP-KENNEL
n. one who has to skip over the ‘kennel’s or gutters; a lackey, a footboy, a footman …1668 obs.
• SKIP-LOUSE
n. a tailor …1807
• SKIP ON
vb. to leave …1989 US sl.
• SKIP OUT
vb. 1. to die …E20 Brit. sl.
vb. 2. to depart hurriedly …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SKIP OUT OF ONE’S SKIN FOR JOY
vb. to be extremely delighted, excited, or surprised …1668
• SKIPPER
n. 1. a locust …c1250 obs. rare
n. 2. a barn, outhouse, or shed, used as a sleeping-place by vagrants …1567 cant obs.
n. 3. a term of contempt for a young man …1596 rare
n. 4. the captain of a sports team …1830 sl.
n. 5. a commanding officer in the army or the captain of an aircraft or squadron …1906 services’ sl.
n. 6. a vagrant, a tramp …1925 Brit. sl.
n. 7. a police chief …1929 sl.
n. 8. an act of sleeping rough …1935 Brit. sl.
vb. 1. to skip or hop …1845 rare
vb. 2. to sleep in the open, or in a barn, etc. …1894 cant
• SKIPPER IT
vb. to sleep in the open, or in a barn, etc. …1851 cant
• SKIPPER’S DAUGHTERS
n. tall, white-crested waves, such as are seen at sea in windy weather; white-caps …1888
• SKIPPESON
n. equipment, provision of necessaries …1444 obs. rare
• SKIPPET
n. 1. a basket …c1450 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. a small boat or skiff …1590 obs.
• SKIPPING JENNY
n. rice and peas cooked together …1952 Amer. dial.
• SKIPPISH
adj. inclined to skip …1576 obs.
• SKIPPY
n. 1. an Oriental prostitute; thus, when addressing a Japanese speaker, any prostitute …1910s US sl.
n. 2. a Japanese person …1920s US sl., derogatory
• SKIP-SCOTCH
n. the game of hopscotch …1965 Amer. dial.
• SKIPT
n. a very light fall of snow …1967 Amer. dial.
• SKIP THE CINDERS
vb. to walk along a railway track …1977 US sl.
• SKIP THE GUTTER!
int. hurry up, get going …1957 Amer. dial.
• SKIP THE TIES
vb. to walk along a railway track …1977 US sl.
• SKIP UP
vb. to depart hurriedly …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SKIRDICK
n. an atom, a particle; the smallest coin …1889 Eng. dial.
• SKIRE
adj. 1. clear of, free from, something morally bad …c1200 obs.
adj. 2. of water: pure, clear …a1300 obs.
adj. 3. noteworthy, remarkable …c1400 obs.
adj. 4. of colours, flames, etc.: clear; bright …a1400-50 obs.
adj. 5. quite mad …1822 Sc.
adj. 6. utter, absolute …1825 Sc.
adv. quite, altogether …1581 Sc.
vb. to cleanse, to clear or purify oneself …a1300 obs.
• SKIRGIFFIN
n. Bk1904 Sc. sl. – a girl from twelve to fourteen years of age; a half-grown woman
• SKIRL
n. 1. 1513 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – a shrill cry, a shriek, a scream; shrill talk
n. 2. 1860 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – the sound of the bagpipe
vb. 1. c1400 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to scream, to shriek, to cry out shrilly
vb. 2. a1665 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – of the bagpipe: to produce the shrill sounds by which it is characterized
vb. 3. 1786 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to sing, utter, play, etc. in loud and shrill tones
vb. 4. 1828 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to play the bagpipe
vb. 5. 1859 – to fly with a sweeping or whirling motion
• SKIRLING
adj. 1785 – shrieking, screaming, crying or sounding shrilly
n. 1. 1776 Eng. dial. – a young salmon
n. 2. 1820 – shrieking, screaming, shrill crying
• SKIRL-IN-THE-PAN
n. 1816 Sc. – something prepared for eating by frying in a pan
• SKIRM
n. c1400 obs. rare – movement as in fighting or fencing; skirmish
vb. 1. c1205 obs. – to fence, to skirmish
vb. 2. a1300 obs. – to dart about, to move rapidly
vb. 3. c1400 obs. rare – to engage with one in fight
• SKIRMERY
n. c1450 obs. rare – skirmishing, fighting, fencing
• SKIRMISH
n. 1. 1835 – a scamper, a scramble
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – an informal game of baseball or hockey
n. 3. 1984 Amer. dial. – –a very light fall of snow
vb. 1. 1387 obs. – to fence; to make flourishes with a weapon
vb. 2. 1864 Amer. dial. – to search, to scout, to rummage; to hunt up, to search out
• SKIRMISH ABOUT
vb. 1878 Amer. dial. – to search, to scout, to rummage; to hunt up, to search out
• SKIRMISH AROUND
vb. to search, to scout, to rummage; to hunt up, to search out …1907 Amer. dial.
• SKIRMISH LINE
n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke …1918 Amer. dial.
• SKIRMISH UP
vb. to search, to scout, to rummage; to hunt up, to search out …1935 Amer. dial.
• SKIRP
vb. 1. to behave with contempt …c1200 obs.
vb. 2. to mock, to deride, to ridicule …c1450 obs. rare
vb. 3. to splash up on; to bespatter …1871 Sc.
• SKIRR
n. a sound of a grating, rasping, or whirring character …c1870
vb. 1. to run away hastily; to flee, to make off …a1548
vb. 2. to move, run, fly, sail, etc., rapidly or with great impetus …1567
vb. 3. to ride rapidly through …1605 obs.
vb. 4. to slide or skate swiftly …1811 Eng. dial.
• SKIRRACH
n. a halfpenny …E19, chiefly Aust. & NZ usage
• SKIRRET OF PERU
n. the potato …1597 obs.
• SKIRRUP
n. a good time; a frolic …1896 Amer. dial.
vb. to frisk, to frolic …1896 Amer. dial.
• SKIRRY
vb. to scurry …1869
• SKIRT
n. 1. the rim or base of a bell …1555
n. 2. a woman …1560
n. 3. a rim or border; an edging …1576 rare
n. 4. the rim or base of a beehive …1609
n. 5. the beginning or end of a period of time; chiefly in plural …1624
n. 6. a prostitute …M20 Amer. sl.
n. 7. a very light fall of snow …1968 Amer. dial.
• THE SKIRT
n. women collectively …1899 sl.
• SKIRT-CHASER
n. an amorous pursuer of women; a philanderer …Bk1942 sl.
• SKIRT-FOIST
n. a female cheat …a1652 obs.
• SKIRT PATROL
n. a search for female sexual partners …1941 sl., orig. US
• SKISTER
one who uses skis …1898
• SKIT
adj. precipitate, over-hasty …a1529 obs.
int. go away! …1912 Amer. dial.
n. 1. dirt, trash …c1330 rare
n. 2. diarrhoea in animals, esp. sheep …c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 3. a vain, frivolous, or wanton woman …1572 chiefly Sc.
n. 4. a trick; a hoax; a practical joke …1815 chiefly Eng. dial.
n. 5. a slight shower of rain or snow …1847
n. 6. a slight stroke …1860
n. 7. a squirt or small jet of water …1877
n. 8. a young capering or restive horse …1882 Sc.
vb. 1. to shy or be skittish; to move lightly and rapidly; to caper, to leap, to spring …1611
vb. 2. to void thin excrement; to have diarrhoea …1805 rare
• SKIT-BRAINED
adj. stupid; contemptible …1553
• SKIT-BRAINS
n. a stupid person, a blockhead, a dolt …1553
• SKITCHING
n. holding on to the back of a vehicle so as to be pulled over snow or ice; also, holding on to a vehicle while on a bicycle …1983 Amer. dial.
• SKITE
int. hurry! …1894 Amer. dial.
n. 1. a sudden vigorous stroke or blow, esp. one given in an oblique direction …1785 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 2. a boyish, giddy person …1790 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a trick; a hoax; a practical joke …1804 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 4. a contemptible person …1808 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 5. boastful talk; behaviour intended to impress …1860 Aust. & NZ sl.
n. 6. a boastful person …1897 Aust. & NZ sl.
n. 7. a cross or unlikable man, somewhat miserly, or inclined to be dishonest in money matters …1911 Amer. dial.
n. 8. a small, cute or mischievous person …1911 Amer. dial.
n. 9. an unreliable or extravagant person …1995 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. to void excrement …1449 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to dart swiftly, esp. in an oblique direction; to run lightly and rapidly; to leave hastily …1721 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to boast, to behave boastfully, self-importantly, or ostentatiously …1857 Aust. & NZ sl.
vb. 4. to slip suddenly …1871 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
• SKITES
n. diarrhoea …1966 Amer. dial.
• SKITS
n. diarrhoea …1966 Amer. dial.
• SKITTAMALINK
n. a rascal, a bad-acting woman …1966 Amer. dial., derogatory
• SKITTER
n. 1. diarrhoea; looseness or laxity of the bowels …a1585 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a light skipping movement or the sound caused by this …1905 US
n. 3. the first thin ice that forms over the surface of a pond or pool …1968 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. to void thin excrement; to have diarrhoea …a1300 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to move or run rapidly; to hurry about; to scamper off …1845
vb. 3. to skip or skim along a surface, with occasional rapid contact …1885 US
• SKITTERBROOK
n. one who befouls his breeches; a coward …1632 obs. rare
• SKITTERS
n. diarrhoea …a1585
• THE SKITTERS
n. diarrhoea …a1585
• SKITTER-SKATTER
adv. helter-skelter, in disorderly haste or confusion …1967 Amer. dial.
• SKITTER-WIT
n. a flighty person; a foolish, harebrained fellow; a scatterbrain …1886 Eng. dial.
• SKITTERY
adj. 1. trifling, of little importance, trivial …1905
adj. 2. restless …1941
adj. 3. speckled …1955
• SKITTISH
adj. 1. of disposition, etc.: characterized by levity, frivolity, or excessive liveliness; excessively lively …c1412
adj. 2. spirited, active, lively; frolicsome …a1592
adj. 3. fickle, inconstant, changeable; tricky, difficult to deal with or manage …1601
adj. 4. inclined to show coyness or reserve …1648
• SKITTISHLY
adv. in a spirited or lively manner …1598
• SKITTISHNESS
n. excessive liveliness …1607
• SKITTLE
n. 1. a frying pan, a skillet …1900 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a coal scuttle …1973 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a promiscuous woman, or one who is judged as such …1990s sl.
• SKITTLE DOWN
vb. to spend or lose money prodigally; to squander …1883
• SKITTLES
int. nonsense! …1905
n. nonsense, rubbish …1904 colloq.
• SKITTLING
adj. poor; inadequate …1959 Amer. dial.
• SKITTY-BOOTS
n. low boots laced in front …1882 Eng. dial.
• SKITTY-WAMPUS
adv. helter-skelter; in disorderly haste or confusion …1968 Amer. dial.
• SKITWIT
n. a soft, foolish, scatterbrained person …B1900 Eng. dial.
• SKIV
n. 1. a sovereign …1858 sl.
n. 2. £1 … Bk1903 sl.
• SKIVE
vb. 1. to go, to run, to dart, to hurry; to tumble …1854 Eng. & Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to shirk one’s duty or avoid work …1919 sl., orig. services’ usage
• SKIVEAROUND
vb. to run, to dart, to hurry; to tumble …1857 Amer. dial.
• SKIVEL
n. a skewer …1790 Eng. dial.
• SKIVER
n. 1. a skewer …1664 chiefly Eng. dial.
n. 2. a small amount; a trace …1925 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a lazy person; a shirker …1941 sl., orig. services’ usage
vb. 1. to cut or pare leather …1875
vb. 2. to scatter, to scurry …1881 Amer. dial.
• SKIVER AROUND
vb. to scatter, to scurry …1942 Amer. dial.
• SKIVEY
n. (a female domestic servant, esp. a maid-of-all-work …1902 sl., mainly derogatory
vb. to do the work of a servant …1931 sl.
• SKIVIE
adj. harebrained; mentally deranged …1808 Sc.
n. a vest or undershirt …1932 Amer. sl., orig. nautical usage
• SKIVIES
n. underwear …1945 Amer. sl.
• SKIVVIE
n. a vest or undershirt …1932 Amer. sl., orig. nautical usage
• SKIVVIES
n. underwear …1945 Amer. sl.
• SKIVVY
n. 1. (mainly derogatory) a female domestic servant, esp. a maid-of-all-work …1902 sl.
n. 2. a vest or undershirt …1932 Amer. sl., orig. nautical usage
vb. to do the work of a servant …1931 sl.
• SKIWAMPUS
adj. askew, crooked …1905 Amer. dial.
• SKIWIFT
adj. awry, askew; crooked, aslant …1754 UK sl.
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