Part 443

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 (?), v. t. To know; to understand. [Obs.]

To skill the arts of expressing our mind.

Barrow.

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 (?), a. 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.

Skil"let (?), n. [OF. escuelette, dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle, fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket.] A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat.

Skill"ful (?), a. [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.

Skil`li*ga*lee" (?), n. 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.]

Skil"ling (?), n. [Cf. Sheeling.] A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov. Eng.]

Skil"ling, n. [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling.] 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, a. Wanting skill. Shak.