Part 438

Skate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skated; p. pr. & vb. n. Skating.] To move on skates.

Skate, n. [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose.

Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate (Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate (R. lævis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate (R. erinacea) is much smaller.

Skate's egg. See Sea purse. -- Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates.

Skat"er (?), n. 1. One who skates.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects belonging to Gerris, Pyrrhocoris, Prostemma, and allied genera. They have long legs, and run rapidly over the surface of the water, as if skating.

Ska"tol (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;, dung + -ol.] (Physiol. Chem.) A constituent of human fæces formed in the small intestines as a product of the putrefaction of albuminous matter. It is also found in reduced indigo. Chemically it is methyl indol, C9H9N.

Skayles (?), n. [√159.] Skittles. [Obs.]

Skean (?), n. [Ir sgian; akin to Gael. sgian, W. ysgien a large knife, a scimiter.] A knife or short dagger, esp. that in use among the Highlanders of Scotland. [Variously spelt.] "His skean, or pistol." Spenser.

Ske*dad"dle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skedaddled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Skedaddling (?).] [Of uncertain etymology.] To betake one's self to flight, as if in a panic; to flee; to run away. [Slang, U. S.]

Skee (?), n. [Dan. ski; Icel. sk&?; a billet of wood. See Skid.] A long strip of wood, curved upwards in front, used on the foot for sliding.

Skeed (?), n. See Skid.

Skeel (?), n. [Icel. skj&?;la a pail, bucket.] A shallow wooden vessel for holding milk or cream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Grose.

{ Skeel"duck` (?), Skeel"goose` (?), } n. [See Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.) The common European sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]

Skeet (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) A scoop with a long handle, used to wash the sides of a vessel, and formerly to wet the sails or deck.

Skeg (?), n. [Prov. E., also a stump of a branch, a wooden peg; cf. Icel. sk&?;gr a wood, Sw. skog. Cf. Shaw.] 1. A sort of wild plum. [Obs.] Holland.

2. pl. A kind of oats. Farm. Encyc.

3. (Naut.) The after part of the keel of a vessel, to which the rudder is attached.

Skeg"ger (?), n. (Zoöl.) The parr. Walton.

Skein (?), n. [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. écagne, probably of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.] 1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a sort of knot.

A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.

2. (Wagon Making) A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle. Knight.

Skein, n. (Zoöl.) A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]

Skeine (?), n. See Skean.

Skel"der (?), v. t. & i. [Etymol. uncertain.] To deceive; to cheat; to trick. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Skel"der, n. A vagrant; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

{ Skel"drake` (?), or Skiel"drake` (?) }, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common European sheldrake. (b) The oyster catcher.

Skel"et (?), n. A skeleton. See Scelet.