Chapter CDXII: Prologue (63)

SKIASCOPE; SCIASCOPE Ski"a*scope, Sci"a*scope, n. [Gr. a shadow + -scope.] (Med.)

Defn: A device for determining the refractive state of the eye by observing the movements of the retinal lights and shadows. -- Ski*as"co*py (#), Ski*as"co*py (#), n.

SKID Skid, n. Etym: [Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Shide.] [Written also skeed.]

1. A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose.

2. A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. Specifically: (a) pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it in handling a cargo. Totten. (b) One of a pair of timbers or bars, usually arranged so as to form an inclined plane, as form a wagon to a door, along which anything is moved by sliding or rolling. (c) One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, as a boat, a barrel, etc.

SKID Skid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skidded; p. pr. & vb. n. Skidding.]

1. To protect or support with a skid or skids; also, to cause to move on skids.

2. To check with a skid, as wagon wheels. Dickens.

SKIDDAW Skid"daw`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black guillemot. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIDDER Skid"der, n. One that skids; one that uses a skid; specif.: (Logging) (a) One that skids logs. (b) An engine for hauling the cable used in skidding logs. (c) The foreman of a construction gang making a skid road.

SKIDPAN Skid"pan`, n.

Defn: See Skid, n., 1. [Eng.]

SKID ROAD Skid road. (Logging) (a) A road along which logs are dragged to the skidway or landing; - - called also travois, or travoy, road. (b) A road having partly sunken transverse logs (called skids) at intervals of about five feet.

SKIED Skied,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sky, v. t.

SKIEY Ski"ey, a.

Defn: See Skyey. Shelley.

SKIFF Skiff, n. Etym: [F. esquif, fr. OHG. skif, G. schiff. See Ship.]

Defn: A small, light boat. The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff. Milton. Skiff caterpillar (Zoöl.), the larva of a moth (Limacodes scapha); -- so called from its peculiar shape.

SKIFF Skiff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skiffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skiffing.]

Defn: To navigate in a skiff. [R.]

SKIFFLING Skif"fling, n. (Quarrying)

Defn: Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections; knobbing.

SKILDER Skil"der, v. i.

Defn: To beg; to pilfer; to skelder. [Prov. Eng.& Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SKILFUL Skil"ful, a.

Defn: See Skilful.

SKILL Skill, n. Etym: [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. skäl reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. Shell, Shoal, a multitude.]

1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obs.] Shak. "As it was skill and right." Chaucer. For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. Chaucer. [For with good reason he should test what he created.]

2. Knowledge; understanding. [Obsoles.] That by his fellowship he color mightskill of any wight. Spenser. Nor want we skill or art. Milton.

3. 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; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc. Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift. Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble.

4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obs.] Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return. Fuller.

5. Any particular art. [Obs.] Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful. Hooker.

Syn. -- Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability. -- Skill, Dexterity, Adroitness. Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity, when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity, and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well- directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view.

SKILL Skill, v. t.

Defn: To know; to understand. [Obs.] To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow.

SKILL Skill, v. i.

1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.] I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert.

2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally. Spenser. What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold About thy neck do drown thee Herbert. It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott.

SKILLED Skilled, a.

Defn: Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful; -- often followed by in; as, a person skilled in drawing or geometry.

SKILLET Skil"let, n. Etym: [OF. escuelette, dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle, fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket.]

Defn: A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat.

SKILLFUL Skill"ful, a. Etym: [Written also skilful.]

1. Discerning; reasonable; judicious; cunning. [Obs.] "Of skillful judgment." Chaucer.

2. Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; expert; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; -- often followed by at, in, or of; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing. And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentations to wailing. Amos v. 16.

Syn. -- Expert; skilled; dexterous; adept; masterly; adroit; clever; cunning. -- Skill"ful*ly, adv. -- Skill"ful*ness, n.

SKILLIGALEE Skil`li*ga*lee", n.

Defn: A kind of thin, weak broth or oatmeal porridge, served out to prisoners and paupers in England; also, a drink made of oatmeal, sugar, and water, sometimes used in the English navy or army. [Written also skilligolee, skillygalee, etc.]

SKILLING Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. Sheeling.]

Defn: A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov. Eng.]

SKILLING Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling.]

Defn: A money od account in Sweden, Norwey, Denmark, and North Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in Lübeck.

SKILL-LESS Skill"-less, a.

Defn: Wanting skill. Shak.

SKILTS Skilts, n. pl.

Defn: A kind of large, coarse, short trousers formerly worn. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

SKILTY Skil"ty, n.

Defn: The water rail. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIM Skim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. sq. root158. See Scum.]

1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.

2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.

3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of. Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean. Hazlitt.

4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper.

SKIM Skim, v. i.

1. To 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.

2. To hasten along with superficial attention. They skim over a science in a very superficial survey. I. Watts.

3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.

SKIM Skim, a.

Defn: Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed. Skim coat, the final or finishing coat of plaster. -- Skim colter, a colter for paring off the surface of land. -- Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been taken.

SKIM Skim, n.

Defn: Scum; refuse. Bryskett.

SKIMBACK Skim"back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The quillback. [Local, U.S.]

SKIMBLE-SCAMBLE Skim"ble-scam`ble, a. Etym: [A reduplication of scamble.]

Defn: Rambling; disorderly; unconnected. [Colloq.] Such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff. Shak.

SKIMITRY Skim"i*try, n.

Defn: See Skimmington.

SKIMMER Skim"mer, n.

1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus Rhynchops, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species (R. nigra) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also scissorbill, and shearbill.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.

SKIMMERTON Skim"mer*ton, n.

Defn: See Skimmington.

SKIMMING Skim"ming, n.

1. The act of one who skims.

2. That which is skimmed from the surface of a liquid; -- chiefly used in the plural; as, the skimmings of broth.

SKIMMINGLY Skim"ming*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skimming manner.

SKIMMINGTON Skim"ming*ton, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Perhaps the name of some notorius scold.]

Defn: A word employed in the phrase, To ride Skimmington; that is to ride on a horse with a woman, but behind her, facing backward, carrying a distaff, and accompanied by a procession of jeering neighbors making mock music; a cavalcade in ridicule of a henpecked man. The custom was in vogue in parts of England.

SKIMP Skimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimping.] Etym: [Cf. Skinch, Scamp, v. t.]

1. To slight; to do carelessly; to scamp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

2. To make insufficient allowance for; to scant; to scrimp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

SKIMP Skimp, v. i.

Defn: To save; to be parsimonious or niggardly. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIMP Skimp, a.

Defn: Scanty. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIN Skin, n. Etym: [Icel. skinn; akin to Sw. skinn, Dan. skind, AS. scinn, G. schined to skin.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The external membranous integument of an animal.

Note: In man, and the vertebrates generally, the skin consist of two layers, an outer nonsensitive and nonvascular epidermis, cuticle, or skarfskin, composed of cells which are constantly growing and multiplying in the deeper, and being thrown off in the superficial, layers; and an inner sensitive, and vascular dermis, cutis, corium, or true skin, composed mostly of connective tissue.

2. The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal, as a calf, sheep, or goat.

3. A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids. See Bottle, 1. "Skins of wine." Tennyson.

4. The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of fruits and plants.

5. (Naut.) (a) That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole. Totten. (b) The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing. Skin friction, Skin resistance (Naut.), the friction, or resistance, caused by the tendency of water to adhere to the immersed surface (skin) of a vessel. -- Skin graft (Surg.), a small portion of skin used in the process of grafting. See Graft, v. t., 2. -- Skin moth (Zoöl.), any insect which destroys the prepared skins of animals, especially the larva of Dermestes and Anthrenus. -- Skin of the teeth, nothing, or next to nothing; the least possible hold or advantage. Job xix. 20. -- Skin wool, wool taken from dead sheep.

SKIN Skin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinning.]

1. To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to skin an animal.

2. To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover superficially. It will but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.

3. To strip of money or property; to cheat. [Slang]

SKIN Skin, v. i.

1. To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.

2. To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs, memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited. [College Cant, U.S.]

SKINBOUND Skin"bound`, a.

Defn: Having the skin adhering closely and rigidly to the flesh; hidebound. Skinbound disease. (Med.) See Sclerema neonatorum, under Sclerema.

SKINCH Skinch, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Skinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinching.] Etym: [Cf. Scant.]

Defn: To give scant measure; to squeeze or pinch in order to effect a saving. [Prev. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIN-DEEP Skin"-deep`, a.

Defn: Not deeper than the skin; hence, superficial. Lowell.

SKINFLINT Skin"flint`, n. Etym: [Skin + flint.]

Defn: A penurious person; a miser; a niggard. Sir W. Scott.

SKINFUL Skin"ful, n.; pl. Skinfuls (.

Defn: As much as a skin can hold.

SKINK Skink, n. Etym: [L. scincus, Gr. [Written also scink.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family Scincidæ, common in the warmer parts of all the continents.

Note: The officinal skink (Scincus officinalis) inhabits the sandy plains of South Africa. It was believed by the ancients to be a specific for various diseases. A common slender species (Seps tridactylus) of Southern Europe was formerly believed to produce fatal diseases in cattle by mere contact. The American skinks include numerous species of the genus Eumeces, as the blue-tailed skink (E. fasciatus) of the Eastern United States. The ground skink, or ground lizard (Oligosoma laterale) inhabits the Southern United States.

SKINK Skink, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinking.] Etym: [Icel. skenja; akin to Sw. skäka, Dan. skienke, AS. scencan, D. & G. schenken. As. scencan is usually derived from sceonc, sceanc, shank, a hollow bone being supposed to have been used to draw off liquor from a cask. sq. root161. See Shank, and cf. Nunchion.]

Defn: To draw or serve, as drink. [Obs.] Bacchus the wine them skinketh all about. Chaucer. Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. Shirley.

SKINK Skink, v. i.

Defn: To serve or draw liquor. [Obs.]

SKINK Skink, n.

Defn: Drink; also, pottage. [Obs.] Bacon.

SKINKER Skink"er, n.

Defn: One who serves liquor; a tapster.

SKINLESS Skin"less, a.

Defn: Having no skin, or a very thin skin; as, skinless fruit.

SKINNER Skin"ner, n.

1. One who skins.

2. One who deals in skins, pelts, or hides.

SKINNINESS Skin"ni*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being skinny.

SKINNY Skin"ny, a.

Defn: Consisting, or chiefly consisting, of skin; wanting flesh. "Her skinny lips." Shak. He holds him with a skinny hand. Coleridge.

SKIP Skip, n. Etym: [See Skep.]

1. A basket. See Skep. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. A basket on wheels, used in cotton factories.

3. (Mining)

Defn: An iron bucket, which slides between guides, for hoisting mineral and rock.

4. (Sugar Manuf.)

Defn: A charge of sirup in the pans.

5. A beehive; a skep.

SKIP Skip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skipping.] Etym: [OE. skippen, of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. skopa run, skoppa to spin like a top, OSw. & dial. Sw. skimmpa to run, skimpa, skompa, to hop, skip; or Ir. sgiob to snatch, Gael. sgiab to start or move suddenly, to snatch, W. ysgipio to snatch.]

1. To leap lightly; to move in leaps and hounds; -- commonly implying a sportive spirit. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play Pope. So she drew her mother away skipping, dancing, and frisking fantastically. Hawthorne.

2. Fig.: To leave matters unnoticed, as in reading, speaking, or writing; to pass by, or overlook, portions of a thing; -- often followed by over.

SKIP Skip, v. t.

1. To leap lightly over; as, to skip the rope.

2. To pass over or by without notice; to omit; to miss; as, to skip a line in reading; to skip a lesson. They who have a mind to see the issue may skip these two chapters. Bp. Burnet.

3. To cause to skip; as, to skip a stone. [Colloq.]

SKIP Skip, n.

1. A light leap or bound.

2. The act of passing over an interval from one thing to another; an omission of a part.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: A passage from one sound to another by more than a degree at once. Busby. Skip kennel, a lackey; a footboy. [Slang.] Swift. -- Skip mackerel. (Zoöl.) See Bluefish, 1.

SKIPJACK Skip"jack`, n.

1. An upstart. [Obs.] Ford.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An elater; a snap bug, or snapping beetle.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name given to several kinds of a fish, as the common bluefish, the alewife, the bonito, the butterfish, the cutlass fish, the jurel, the leather jacket, the runner, the saurel, the saury, the threadfish, etc.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: A shallow sailboat with a rectilinear or V-shaped cross section.

SKIPPER Skip"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, skips.

2. A young, thoughtless person. Shak.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The saury (Scomberesox saurus).

4. The cheese maggot. See Cheese fly, under Cheese.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small butterflies of the family Hesperiadæ; -- so called from their peculiar short, jerking flight.

SKIPPER Skip"per, n. Etym: [D. schipper. See Shipper, and Ship.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: The master of a fishing or small trading vessel; hence, the master, or captain, of any vessel.

2. A ship boy. [Obs.] Congreve.

SKIPPET Skip"pet, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skip, E. skipper. See Ship.]

1. A small boat; a skiff. [Obs.] A little skippet floating did appear. Spenser.

2. A small round box for keeping records. [Obs.]

SKIPPINGLY Skip"ping*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skipping manner; by skips, or light leaps.

SKIRL Skirl, v. t.& i. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, and originally the same word as E. shrill.]

Defn: To utter in a shrill tone; to scream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKIRL Skirl, n.

Defn: A shrill cry or sound. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKIRLCOCK Skirl"cock`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The missel thrush; -- so called from its harsh alarm note. [Prev. Eng.]

SKIRLCRAKE Skirl"crake`, n.

Defn: The turnstone. [Prev. Eng.]

SKIRLING Skirl"ing, n.

Defn: A shrill cry or sound; a crying shrilly; a skirl. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott. When the skirling of the pipes cleft the air his cold eyes softened. Mrs. J. H. Ewing.

SKIRLING Skirl"ing, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small trout or salmon; -- a name used loosely. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIRMISH Skir"mish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skirmished; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirmishing.] Etym: [OE. skirmishen, scarmishen, OF. escremir, eskermir, to fence, fight, F. escrimer, of German origin; cf. OHG. scirmen to protect, defend, G. schirmen, OHG. scirm, scerm, protection, shield, G. schirm; perhaps akin to Gr. Scaramouch, Scrimmage.]

Defn: To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.

SKIRMISH Skir"mish, n.Etym: [OE. scarmishe, scrymishe. See Skirmish, v. i.]

1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.

2. A slight contest. They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit. Shak.

SKIRMISHER Skir"mish*er, n.

Defn: One who skirmishes. Specifically: pl. (Mil.)

Defn: Soldiers deployed in loose order, to cover the front or flanks of an advancing army or a marching column.

SKIRR Skirr, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Scur, Scurry.]

Defn: To ramble over in order to clear; to scour. [Archaic] Shak.

SKIRR Skirr, v. i.

Defn: To scour; to scud; to run. [Archaic]

SKIRR Skirr, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIRRET Skir"ret, n. Etym: [A corrupted form equivalent to sugarwort.] (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Sium, or Pimpinella, Sisarum). It is a native of Asia, but has been long cultivated in Europe for its edible clustered tuberous roots, which are very sweet.

SKIRRHUS Skir"rhus, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Scirrhus.

SKIRT Skirt, n. Etym: [OE. skyrt, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skyrta a shirt, Sw. skört a skirt, skjorta a shirt. See Shirt.]

1. The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.

2. A loose edging to any part of a dress. [Obs.] A narrow lace, or a small skirt of ruffled linen, which runs along the upper part of the stays before, and crosses the breast, being a part of the tucker, is called the modesty piece. Addison.

3. Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything "Here in the skirts of the forest." Shak.

4. A petticoat.

5. The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals. Dunglison.

SKIRT Skirt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirting.]

1. To cover with a skirt; to surround. Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold. Milton.

2. To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees. "When sundown skirts the moor." Tennyson.

SKIRT Skirt, v. t.

Defn: To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity. Savages . . . who skirt along our western frontiers. S. S. Smith.

SKIRTING Skirt"ing, n.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A skirting board. [R.]

2. Skirts, taken collectivelly; material for skirts. Skirting board, the board running around a room on the wall next the floor; baseboard.

SKIT Skit, v. t. Etym: [Prov. E. skitto slide, as adj., hasty, precipitate, of Scand. origin, and akin to E. shoot, v.t.; cf. Icel. skyti, skytja, skytta, a marksman, shooter, skjota to shoot, skuta a taunt. sq. root159. See Shoot.]

Defn: To cast reflections on; to asperse. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Crose.

SKIT Skit, n.

1. A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a sally; a brief satire; a squib. Tooke. A similar vein satire upon the emptiness of writers is given in his "Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Human Mind;" but that is a mere skit compared with this strange performance. Leslie Stephen.

2. A wanton girl; a light wench. [Obs.]

SKITTER Skit"ter, v. t. [Cf. Skit, v. t.]

Defn: To move or pass (something) over a surface quickly so that it touches only at intervals; to skip.

The angler, standing in the bow, 'skitters' or skips the spoon over the surface. James A. Henshall.

SKITTER Skit"ter, v. i.

Defn: To pass or glide lightly or with quick touches at intervals; to skip; to skim.

Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a feet before settling down. T. Roosevelt.

SKITTISH Skit"tish, a. Etym: [See Skit, v. t.]

1. Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a skittish colt. "A restiff, skittish jade." L'Estrange.

2. Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle. "Skittish Fortune's hall." Shak. -- Skit"tish*ly, adv. -- Skit"tish*ness, n.

SKITTLE Skit"tle, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the game of skittles. Skittle alley, an alley or court in which the game of skittles is played. -- Skittle ball, a disk or flattish ball of wood for throwing at the pins in the game of skittles.

SKITTLE-DOG Skit"tle-dog`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The piked dogfish.

SKITTLES Skit"tles, n. pl. Etym: [Of Scand. origin. sq. root159. See Shoot, v. t., and cf. Shuttle, Skit, v. t.]

Defn: An English game resembling ninepins, but played by throwing wooden disks, instead of rolling balls, at the pins.

SKITTY Skit"ty, n. Etym: [Cf. Skittish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rail; as, the water rail (called also skitty cock, and skitty coot); the spotted crake (Porzana maruetta), and the moor hen. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIVE Skive, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skifa a shaving, slice, E. shive, sheave.]

Defn: The iron lap used by diamond polishers in finishing the facets of the gem.

SKIVE Skive, v. t.

Defn: To pare or shave off the rough or thick parts of (hides or leather).

SKIVER Skiv"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Skewer, Shiver a fragment.]

1. An inferior quality of leather, made of split sheepskin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed. It is used for hat linings, pocketbooks, bookbinding, etc.

2. The cutting tool or machine used in splitting leather or skins, as sheepskins.

SKIVING Ski"ving, n.

1. The act of paring or splitting leather or skins.

2. A piece made in paring or splitting leather; specifically, the part from the inner, or flesh, side.

SKLAYRE Sklayre, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schleier.]

Defn: A vell. [Obs.]

SKLERE Sklere, v. t.

Defn: To shelter; to cover. [Obs.]

SKOLECITE; SKOLEZITE Skol"e*cite, Skol"e*zite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Scolecite.

SKONCE Skonce, n.

Defn: See Sconce.

SKOPSTER Skop"ster, n.

Defn: The saury. [Prov. Eng.]

SKOPTSY Skop*tsy", n. pl.

Defn: See Raskolnik.

SKORODITE Skor"o*dite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Scorodite.

SKOUT Skout, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A guillemot.

SKOWITZ Sko"witz, n. Etym: [Nisqually (American Indian) name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The silver salmon.

SKREEN Skreen, n. & v.

Defn: See Screen. [Obs.]

SKRIKE Skrike, v. i. & t.

Defn: To shriek. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SKRIKE Skrike, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]

SKRIMMAGE Skrim"mage, n.

Defn: See Scrimmage.

SKRIMP Skrimp, v. t.

Defn: See Scrimp.

SKRINGE Skringe, v. i.

Defn: See Scringe.

SKRITE Skrite, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The skrike. [Prov. Eng.]

SKUA Sku"a, n. Etym: [Icel. sk, sk.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; -- called also boatswain.

SKUE Skue, a. & n.

Defn: See Skew.

SKULK Skulk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skulked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skulking.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. skulke to spare or save one's self, to play the truant, Sw. skolka to be at leisure, to shirk, Icel. skolla. Cf. Scowl.]

Defn: To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lie close, or to move in a furtive way; to lurk. "Want skulks in holes and crevices." W. C. Bryant. Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.

SKULK Skulk, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skollr, skolli, a fox, and E. skulk, v.i.]

Defn: A number of foxes together. Wright.

SKULK; SKULKER Skulk, Skulk"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, skulks.

SKULKINGLY Skulk"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skulking manner.

SKULL Skull, n. Etym: [See School a multitude.]

Defn: A school, company, or shoal. [Obs.] A knavish skull of boys and girls did pelt at him. Warner. These fishes enter in great flotes and skulls. Holland.

SKULL Skull, n. Etym: [OE. skulle, sculle, scolle; akin to Scot. skull, skoll, a bowl, Sw. skalle skull, skal a shell, and E. scale; cf. G. hirnschale, Dan. hierneskal. Cf. Scale of a balance.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The skeleton of the head of a vertebrate animal, including the brain case, or cranium, and the bones and cartilages of the face and mouth. See Illusts. of Carnivora, of Facial angles under Facial, and of Skeleton, in Appendix.

Note: In many fishes the skull is almost wholly cartilaginous but in the higher vertebrates it is more or less completely ossified, several bones are developed in the face, and the cranium is made up, wholly or partially, of bony plates arranged in three segments, the frontal, parietal, and occipital, and usually closely united in the adult.

2. The head or brain; the seat of intelligence; mind. Skulls that can not teach, and will not learn. Cowper.

3. A covering for the head; a skullcap. [Obs. & R.] Let me put on my skull first. Beau & Fl.

4. A sort of oar. See Scull. Skull and crossbones, a symbol of death. See Crossbones.

SKULLCAP Skull"cap`, n.

1. A cap which fits the head closely; also, formerly, a headpiece of iron sewed inside of a cap for protection.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the labiate genus Scutellaria, the calyx of whose flower appears, when inverted, like a helmet with the visor raised.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Lophiomys. Mad-dog skullcap (Bot.), an American herb (Scetellaria lateriflora) formerly prescribed as a cure for hydrophobia.

SKULLFISH Skull"fish`, n.

Defn: A whaler's name for a whale more than two years old.

SKULPIN Skul"pin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Sculpin.

SKUN Skun, n. & v.

Defn: See Scum.

SKUNK Skunk, n. Etym: [Contr. from the Abenaki (American Indian) seganku.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of the genus Mephitis and allied genera. They have two glands near the anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at pleasure as a means of defense.

Note: The common species of the Eastern United States (Mephitis mephitica) is black with more or less white on the body and tail. The spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), native of the Southwestern United States and Mexico, is smaller than the common skunk, and is variously marked with black and white. Skunk bird, Skunk blackbird (Zoöl.), the bobolink; -- so called because the male, in the breeding season, is black and white, like a skunk. -- Skunk cabbage (Bot.), an American aroid herb (Symplocarpus foetidus) having a reddish hornlike spathe in earliest spring, followed by a cluster of large cabbagelike leaves. It exhales a disagreeable odor. Also called swamp cabbage. -- Skunk porpoise. (Zoöl.) See under Porpoise.

SKUNK Skunk, v. t.

Defn: In games of chance and skill: To defeat (an opponent) (as in cards) so that he fails to gain a point, or (in checkers) to get a king. [Colloq.

Defn: U. S.]

SKUNKBALL Skunk"ball`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The surf duck.

SKUNKHEAD Skunk"head`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The surf duck. (b) A duck (Camptolaimus Labradorus) which formerly inhabited the Atlantic coast of New England. It is now supposed to be extinct. Called also Labrador duck, and pied duck.

SKUNKISH Skunk"ish, a.

Defn: Like the skunk, especially in odor.

SKUNKTOP Skunk"top`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The surf duck.

SKUNKWEED Skunk"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Skunk cabbage.

SKURRY Skur"ry, n. & v.

Defn: See Scurry.

SKUTE Skute, n. Etym: [Icel. sk; akin to Sw. skuta, Dan. skude, D. schuit, Lg. schüte, and E. schoot, v.t.]

Defn: A boat; a small vessel. [Obs.] Sir R. Williams.

SKUTTERUDITE Skut"ter*ud*ite, n. Etym: [From Skuttertid, in Norway, whence it is ibtained.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a bright metallic luster and tin-white to pale lead-gray color. It consist of arsenic and cobalt.

SKY Sky, n.; pl. Skies. Etym: [OE. skie a cloud, Icel. sk; akin to Sw. & Dan. sky; cf. AS. sc, sc, shadow, Icel. skuggi; probably from the same root as E. scum. sq. root158. See Scum, and cf. Hide skin, Obscure.]

1. A cloud. [Obs.] [A wind] that blew so hideously and high, That it ne lefte not a sky In all the welkin long and broad. Chaucer.

2. Hence, a shadow. [Obs.] She passeth as it were a sky. Gower.

3. The apparent arch, or vault, of heaven, which in a clear day is of a blue color; the heavens; the firmament; -- sometimes in the plural. The Norweyan banners flout the sky. Shak.

4. The wheather; the climate. Thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Shak.

Note: Sky is often used adjectively or in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as, sky color, skylight, sky-aspiring, sky- born, sky-pointing, sky-roofed, etc. Sky blue, an azure color. -- Sky scraper (Naut.), a skysail of a triangular form. Totten. -- Under open sky, out of doors. "Under open sky adored." Milton.

SKY Sky, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skied or Skyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skying.]

1. To hang (a picture on exhibition) near the top of a wall, where it can not be well seen. [Colloq.] Brother Academicians who skied his pictures. The Century.

2. To throw towards the sky; as, to sky a ball at cricket. [Colloq.]

SKY-BLUE Sky"-blue, a.

Defn: Having the blue color of the sky; azure; as, a sky-blue stone. Wordsworth.

SKYED Skyed, a.

Defn: Surrounded by sky. [Poetic & R.] "The skyed mountain." Thomson.

SKYE TERRIER Skye" ter"ri*er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Terrier.

SKYEY Sky"ey, a.

Defn: Like the sky; ethereal; being in the sky. "Skyey regions." Thackeray. Sublime on the towers of my skyey bowers, Lightning, my pilot, sits. Shelley.

SKY-HIGH Sky"-high`

Defn: , adv. & a. Very high. [Colloq.]

SKYISH Sky"ish, a.

Defn: Like the sky, or approaching the sky; lofty; ethereal. [R.] Shak.

SKYLARK Sky"lark`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lark that mounts and sings as it files, especially the common species (Alauda arvensis) found in Europe and in some parts of Asia, and celebrated for its melodious song; -- called also sky laverock. See under Lark.

Note: The Australian skylark (Cincloramphus cantillans) is a pipit which has the habit of ascending perpendicularly like a skylark, but it lacks the song of a true lark. The Missouri skylark is a pipit (Anthus Spraguei) of the Western United States, resembling the skylark in habit and song.

SKYLARKING Sky"lark"ing, n.

Defn: The act of running about the rigging of a vessel in sport; hence, frolicking; scuffing; sporting; carousing. [Colloq.]

SKYLIGHT Sky"light`, n.

Defn: A window placed in the roof of a building, in the ceiling of a room, or in the deck of a ship, for the admission of light from above.

SKYMAN Sky"man, n.; pl. -men.

Defn: An aëronaut. [Slang]

SKY PILOT Sky pilot. (Aëronautics)

Defn: A person licensed as a pilot. [Slang]

SKYROCKET Sky"rock`et, n.

Defn: A rocket that ascends high and burns as it flies; a species of fireworks.

SKYSAIL Sky"sail, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The sail set next above the royal. See Illust. under Sail.

SKYSCRAPER Sky"scrap`er, n. (a) (Naut.) (1) A skysail of a triangular form. [Rare] (2)

Defn: A name for the one of the fancy sails alleged to have been sometimes set above the skysail. [Obs.] (b) A very tall building. (c) Hence, anything usually large, high, or excessive. [Slang or Colloq.]

SKYWARD Sky"ward, a. & adv.

Defn: Toward the sky.

SLAB Slab, n. Etym: [OE. slabbe, of uncertain origin; perhaps originally meaning, a smooth piece, and akin to slape, Icel. sleipr slippery, and E. slip, v. i.]

1. A thin piece of anything, especially of marble or other stone, having plane surfaces. Gwilt.

2. An outside piece taken from a log or timber in sawing it into boards, planks, etc.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.]

4. (Naut.)

Defn: The slack part of a sail. Slab line (Naut.), a line or small rope by which seamen haul up the foot of the mainsail or foresail. Totten.

SLAB Slab, a. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. slaib mud, mire left on a river strand, and E. slop puddle.]

Defn: Thick; viscous. [Obs.] Make the gruel thick and slab. Shak.

SLAB Slab, n.

Defn: That which is slimy or viscous; moist earth; mud; also, a puddle. [Obs.] Evelyn.

SLABBER Slab"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slabbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slabbering.] Etym: [OE. slaberen; akin to LG. & D. slabbern, G. schlabbern, LG. & D. slabben, G. schlabben, Icel. slafra. Cf. Slaver, Slobber, Slubber.]

Defn: To let saliva or some liquid fall from the mouth carelessly, like a child or an idiot; to drivel; to drool. [Written also slaver, and slobber.]

SLABBER Slab"ber, v. t.

1. To wet and foul spittle, or as if with spittle. He slabbered me over, from cheek to cheek, with his great tongue. Arbuthnot.

2. To spill liquid upon; to smear carelessly; to spill, as liquid foed or drink, in careless eating or drinking. The milk pan and cream pot so slabbered and tost That butter is wanting and cheese is half lost. Tusser.

SLABBER Slab"ber, n.

Defn: Spittle; saliva; slaver.

SLABBER Slab"ber, n. Etym: [See 1st Slab.] (Mach.) (a) A saw for cutting slabs from logs. (b) A slabbing machine.

SLABBERER Slab"ber*er, n.

Defn: One who slabbers, or drools; hence, an idiot.

SLABBERY Slab"ber*y, a.

Defn: Like, or covered with, slabber or slab; slippery; sloppy.

SLABBINESS Slab"bi*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being slabby.

SLABBING Slab"bing, a. Etym: [See 1st Slab.]

Defn: Adapted for forming slabs, or for dressing flat surfaces. Slabbing machine, a milling machine.

SLABBY Slab"by, a. [Compar. Slabbier; superl. Slabbiest.] Etym: [See Slab, a.]

1. Thick; viscous. They present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabby stuff. Selden.

2. Sloppy; slimy; miry. See Sloppy. Gay.

SLAB-SIDED Slab"-sid`ed, a.

Defn: Having flat sides; hence, tall, or long and lank. [Colloq. U. S.]

SLACK Slack, n. Etym: [Cf. Slag.]

Defn: Small coal; also, coal dust; culm. Raymond.

SLACK Slack, n. Etym: [Icel. slakki a slope on a mountain edge.]

Defn: A valley, or small, shallow dell. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

SLACK Slack, a. [Compar. Slacker; superl. Slackest.] Etym: [OE. slak, AS. sleac; akin to OS. slak, OHG. slah, Prov. G. schlack, Icel. slakr, Sw. slak; cf. Skr. srsj to let loose, to throw. Cf. Slake.]

Defn: Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope.

2. Weak; not holding fast; as, a slack hand. Milton.

3. Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as, slack in duty or service. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness. 2 Pet. iii. 9.

4. Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack. "With slack pace." Chaucer. Cslack southwest, at midnight was becalmed. Milton. Slack in stays (Naut.), slow in going about, as a ship. -- Slack water, the time when the tide runs slowly, or the water is at rest; or the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide. -- Slack-water navigation, navigation in a stream the depth of which has been increased, and the current diminished, by a dam or dams.

Syn. -- Loose; relaxed; weak; remiss; backward; abated; diminished; inactive; slow; tardy; dull.

SLACK Slack, adv.

Defn: Slackly; as, slack dried hops.

SLACK Slack, n.

Defn: The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail.

SLACK; SLACKEN Slack, Slack"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slacked, Slackened (; p. pr. & vb. n. Slacking, Slackening.] Etym: [See Slack, a.]

1. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.

2. To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.

3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks.

4. To abate; to become less violent. Whence these raging fires Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. Milton.

5. To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.

6. To languish; to fail; to flag.

7. To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. [Obs.] That through your death your lineage should slack. Chaucer. They will not of that firste purpose slack. Chaucer.

SLACK; SLACKEN Slack, Slack"en, v. t.

1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40)

2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] Shak. Slack not the pressage. Dryden.

3. To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime.

4. To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry. "Rancor for to slack." Chaucer. I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms. Addison. In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace. South. With such delay Well plased, they slack their course. Milton.

5. To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease. To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain Of this ill mansion. Milton. Air-slacked lime, lime slacked by exposure to the air, in consequence of the absorption of carton dioxide and water, by which it is converted into carbonate of lime and hydrate of lime.

SLACKEN Slack"en, n. (Metal.)

Defn: A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion. [Written also slakin.]

SLACKLY Slack"ly, adv.

Defn: In a slack manner. Trench.

SLACKNESS Slack"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slack.

SLADE Slade, n. Etym: [AS. sl.]

1. A little dell or valley; a flat piece of low, moist ground. [Obs.] Drayton.

2. The sole of a plow.

SLAG Slag, n. Etym: [Sw. slagg, or LG. slacke, whence G. schlacke; originally, perhaps, the splinters struck off from the metal by hammering. See Slay, v. t.]

1. The dross, or recrement, of a metal; also, vitrified cinders.

2. The scoria of a volcano. Slag furnace, or Slag hearth (Metal.), a furnace, or hearth, for extracting lead from slags or poor ore. -- Slag wool, mineral wool. See under Mineral.

SLAGGY Slag"gy, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to slag; resembling slag; as, slaggy cobalt.

SLAIE Slaie, n. Etym: [See Sley.]

Defn: A weaver's reed; a sley.

SLAKE Slake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaking.] Etym: [OE. slaken to render slack, to slake, AS. sleacian, fr. sleac slack. See Slack, v. & a.]

1. To allay; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst. "And slake the heavenly fire." Spenser. It could not slake mine ire nor ease my heart. Shak.

2. To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination shall take place; to slack; as, to slake lime.

SLAKE Slake, v. i.

1. To go out; to become extinct. "His flame did slake." Sir T. Browne.

2. To abate; to become less decided. [R.] Shak.

3. To slacken; to become relaxed. "When the body's strongest sinews slake." [R.] Sir J. Davies.

4. To become mixed with water, so that a true chemical combination takes place; as, the lime slakes. Slake trough, a trough containing water in which a blacksmith cools a forging or tool.

SLAKELESS Slake"less, a.

Defn: Not capable of being slaked.

SLAKIN Slak"in, n. (Metal.)

Defn: Slacken.

SLAM Slam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slamming.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. slamra, slambra, sl, Norw. slemba, slemma, dial. Sw. slämma.]

1. To shut with force and a loud noise; to bang; as, he slammed the door.

2. To put in or on some place with force and loud noise; -- usually with down; as, to slam a trunk down on the pavement.

3. To strike with some implement with force; hence, to beat or cuff. [Prov. Eng.]

4. To strike down; to slaughter. [Prov. Eng.]

5. To defeat (opponents at cards) by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand. Hoyle. To slam to, to shut or close with a slam. "He slammed to the door." W. D. Howells.

SLAM Slam, v. i.

Defn: To come or swing against something, or to shut, with sudden force so as to produce a shock and noise; as, a door or shutter slams.

SLAM Slam, n.

1. The act of one who, or that which, slams.

2. The shock and noise produced in slamming. The slam and the scowl were lost upon Sam. Dickens.

3. (Card Playing)

Defn: Winning all the tricks of a deal.

4. The refuse of alum works. [Prov. Eng.]

SLAM-BANG Slam"-bang`, adv.

Defn: With great violence; with a slamming or banging noise. [Colloq.]

SLAMKIN; SLAMMERKIN Slam"kin, Slam"mer*kin, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schlampe, schlamp, dim. schlämpchen; schlampen to dangle, to be slovenly in one's dress.]

Defn: A slut; a slatternly woman. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SLANDER Slan"der, n. Etym: [OE. sclandere, OF. esclandre, esclandle, escandre, F. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. skand to spring, leap. See Scan, and cf. Scandal.]

1. A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another. Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call "reviling;" the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call "slander", or "Backbiting." Tillotson. [We] make the careful magistrate The mark of slander. B. Jonson.

2. Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium. Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb. Shak.

3. (Law)

Defn: Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under Defamation. Burril.

SLANDER Slan"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slandered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slandering.]

1. To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate. O, do not slander him, for he is kind. Shak.

2. To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts. Tax not so bad a voice To slander music any more than once. Shak.

Syn. -- To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See Asperse.

SLANDERER Slan"der*er, n.

Defn: One who slanders; a defamer; a calumniator. Jer. Taylor.

SLANDEROUS Slan"der*ous, a.

1. Given or disposed to slander; uttering slander. "Slanderous tongue." Shak.

2. Embodying or containing slander; calumnious; as, slanderous words, speeches, or reports. -- Slan"der*ous*ly, adv. -- Slan"der*ous*ness, n.

SLANG Slang,

Defn: imp. of Sling. Slung. [Archaic]

SLANG Slang, n.

Defn: Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory. [Local, Eng.] Holland.

SLANG Slang, n. Etym: [Cf. Sling.]

Defn: A fetter worn on the leg by a convict. [Eng.]

SLANG Slang, n. Etym: [Said to be of Gypsy origin; but probably from Scand., and akin to E. sling; cf. Norw. sleng a slinging, an invention, device, slengja to sling, to cast, slengja kjeften (literally, to sling the jaw) to use abusive language, to use slang, slenjeord (ord = word) an insulting word, a new word that has no just reason for being.]

Defn: Low, vulgar, unauthorized language; a popular but unauthorized word, phrase, or mode of expression; also, the jargon of some particular calling or class in society; low popular cant; as, the slang of the theater, of college, of sailors, etc.

SLANG Slang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Slanging.]

Defn: To address with slang or ribaldry; to insult with vulgar language. [Colloq.] Every gentleman abused by a cabman or slanged by a bargee was bound there and then to take off his coat and challenge him to fisticuffs. London Spectator.

SLANGINESS Slang"i*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being slangy.

SLANGOUS Slan"gous, a.

Defn: Slangy. [R.] John Bee.

SLANG-WHANGER Slang"-whang`er, n. Etym: [Slang + whang to beat.]

Defn: One who uses abusive slang; a ranting partisan. [Colloq. or Humorous] W. Irving.

SLANGY Slang"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to slang; of the nature of slang; disposed to use slang. [Written also slangey.]

SLANK Slank,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Slink.

SLANT Slant, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slanting.] Etym: [OE. slenten to slope, slide; cf. Sw. slinta to slide.]

Defn: To be turned or inclined from a right line or level; to lie obliquely; to slope. On the side of younder slanting hill. Dodsley.

SLANT Slant, v. t.

Defn: To turn from a direct line; to give an oblique or sloping direction to; as, to slant a line.

SLANT Slant, n.

1. A slanting direction or plane; a slope; as, it lies on a slant.

2. An oblique reflection or gibe; a sarcastic remark. Slant or wind, a local variation of the wind from its general direction.

SLANT Slant, a. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. slant. See Slant, v. i.]

Defn: Inclined from a direct line, whether horizontal or perpendicular; sloping; oblique. "The slant lightning." Milton.

SLANTING Slant"ing, a.

Defn: Oblique; sloping. -- Slant"ing*ly, adv.

SLANTWISE; SLANTLY Slant"wise`, Slant"ly, adv.

Defn: In an inclined direction; obliquely; slopingly.

SLAP Slap, n. Etym: [OE. slappe; akin to LG. slappe, G. schlappe; probably of imitative origin.]

Defn: A blow, esp. one given with the open hand, or with something broad.

SLAP Slap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Slapping.]

Defn: To strike with the open hand, or with something broad.

SLAP Slap, adv. Etym: [Cf. LG. slap, G. schlapp. See Slap, n.]

Defn: With a sudden and violent blow; hence, quickly; instantly; directly. [Colloq.] "The railroad cars drive slap into the city." Thackeray.

SLAPDASH Slap"dash`, adv. Etym: [Slap + dash.]

1. In a bold, careless manner; at random. [Colloq.]

2. With a slap; all at once; slap. [Colloq.] Prior.

SLAPDASH Slap"dash`, v. t.

Defn: To apply, or apply something to, in a hasty, careless, or rough manner; to roughcast; as, to slapdash mortar or paint on a wall, or to slapdash a wall. [Colloq.] Halliwell.

SLAPE Slape, a. Etym: [Icel. sleipr slippery; akin to E. slip.]

Defn: Slippery; smooth; crafty; hypocritical. [Prov. Eng.] Slape ale, plain ale, as opposed to medicated or mixed ale. [Prov. Eng.]

SLAPEFACE Slape"face`, n.

Defn: A soft-spoken, crafty hypocrite. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SLAPJACK Slap"jack`, n.

Defn: A flat batter cake cooked on a griddle; a flapjack; a griddlecake. [Local, U.S.]

SLAPPER Slap"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, slaps.

2. Anything monstrous; a whopper. [Slang] Grose.

SLAPPER; SLAPPING Slap"per, Slap"ping, a.

Defn: Very large; monstrous; big. [Slang.]

SLASH Slash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slashing.] Etym: [OE. slaschen, of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esclachier to break, esclechier, esclichier, to break, and E. slate, slice, slit, v. t.]

1. To cut by striking violently and at random; to cut in long slits.

2. To lash; to ply the whip to. [R.] King.

3. To crack or snap, as a whip. [R.] Dr. H. More.

SLASH Slash, v. i.

Defn: To strike violently and at random, esp. with an edged instrument; to lay about one indiscriminately with blows; to cut hastily and carelessly. Hewing and slashing at their idle shades. Spenser.

SLASH Slash, n.

1. A long cut; a cut made at random.

2. A large slit in the material of any garment, made to show the lining through the openings.

3. Etym: [Cf. Slashy.] pl.

Defn: Swampy or wet lands overgrown with bushes. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

SLASHED Slashed, a.

1. Marked or cut with a slash or slashes; deeply gashed; especially, having long, narrow openings, as a sleeve or other part of a garment, to show rich lining or under vesture. A gray jerkin, with scarlet and slashed sleeves. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Divided into many narrow parts or segments by sharp incisions; laciniate.

SLASHER Slash"er, n. (Textile Manuf.)

Defn: A machine for applying size to warp yarns.

SLASH PINE Slash" pine". (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of pine tree (Pinus Cubensis) found in Southern Florida and the West Indies; -- so called because it grows in "slashes."

SLASHY Slash"y, a. Etym: [Cf. Sw. slaska to dabble in water. Cf. Slush.]

Defn: Wet and dirty; slushy. [Prov. Eng.]

SLAT Slat, n. Etym: [CF. Slot a bar.]

Defn: A thin, narrow strip or bar of wood or metal; as, the slats of a window blind.

SLAT Slat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slatting.] Etym: [OE. slatten; cf. Icel. sletta to slap, to dab.]

1. To slap; to strike; to beat; to throw down violently. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] How did you kill him Slat[t]ed his brains out. Marston.

2. To split; to crack. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. To set on; to incite. See 3d Slate. [Prov. Eng.]

SLATCH Slatch, n. Etym: [See Slack.] (Naut.) (a) The period of a transitory breeze. (b) An interval of fair weather. (c) The loose or slack part of a rope; slack.

SLATE Slate, n. Etym: [OE. slat, OF. esclat a shiver, splinter, F. éclat, fr. OF. esclater to shiver, to chip, F. éclater, fr. OHG. sliezen to tear, slit, split, fr. slizan to slit, G. schleissen. See Slit, v. t., and cf. Eclat.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: An argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.

2. Any rock or stone having a slaty structure.

3. A prepared piece of such stone. Especially: (a) A thin, flat piece, for roofing or covering houses, etc. (b) A tablet for writing upon.

4. An artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the above purposes.

5. A thin plate of any material; a flake. [Obs.]

6. (Politics)