Part 451

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.

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

3. (Zoöl.) The Lophiomys.

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

Skull"fish` (?), n. A whaler's name for a whale more than two years old.

Skul"pin (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Sculpin.

Skun (?), n. & v. See Scum.

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

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 fœtidus>) 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, v. t. 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. U. S.]

Skunk"ball` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The surf duck.

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.

Skunk"ish, a. Like the skunk, especially in odor.

Skunk"top` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The surf duck.

Skunk"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Skunk cabbage.

Skur"ry (?), n. & v. See Scurry.

Skute (?), n. [Icel. sk&?;ta; akin to Sw. skuta, Dan. skude, D. schuit, Lg. schüte, and E. schoot, v.t.] A boat; a small vessel. [Obs.] Sir R. Williams.

Skut"ter*ud*ite (?), n. [From Skutterud, in Norway, whence it is obtained.] (Min.) A mineral of a bright metallic luster and tin-white to pale lead- gray color. It consists of arsenic and cobalt.

Sky (sk), n.; pl. Skies (skz). [OE. skie a cloud, Icel. sk; akin to Sw. & Dan. sky; cf. AS. sca, scwa, shadow, Icel. skuggi; probably from the same root as E. scum. √158. See Scum, and cf. Hide skin, Obscure.] 1. A cloud. [Obs.]

Chaucer.