Part 446

Skink (?), n. [L. scincus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;.] [Written also scink.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family Scincidæ, common in the warmer parts of all the continents.

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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Skinking.] [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. √161. See Shank, and cf. Nunchion.] 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, v. i. To serve or draw liquor. [Obs.]

Skink, n. Drink; also, pottage. [Obs.] Bacon.

Skink"er (?), n. One who serves liquor; a tapster.

Skin"less (?), a. Having no skin, or a very thin skin; as, skinless fruit.

Skin"ner (?), n. 1. One who skins.

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

Skin"ni*ness (?), n. Quality of being skinny.

Skin"ny (?), a. Consisting, or chiefly consisting, of skin; wanting flesh. "Her skinny lips." Shak.

He holds him with a skinny hand.

Coleridge.

Skip (?), n. [See Skep.] 1. A basket. See Skep. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

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

3. (Mining) An iron bucket, which slides between guides, for hoisting mineral and rock.

4. (Sugar Manuf.) A charge of sirup in the pans.

5. A beehive; a skep.

Skip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skipped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Skipping.] [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.