Skerry, sker′i, n. a rocky isle. [Ice. sker.]
Sketch, skech, n. a first draft of any plan or painting: an outline, a short and slightly constructed play, essay, &c.: a short dramatic scene for representation by two persons: an artist's preliminary study of a work to be elaborated.—v.t. to make a rough draft of: to draw the outline: to give the principal points of.—v.i. to practise sketching.—adj. Sketch′able, capable of being sketched effectively.—ns. Sketch′book, a blank book used for sketching by an artist or writer: a printed volume of literary sketches; Sketch′er, one who sketches.—adv. Sketch′ily.—n. Sketch′iness.—adj. Sketch′y, containing a sketch or outline: incomplete, slight. [Dut. schets, It. schizzo—L. schedium—schedius, made off-hand—Gr. schedios, sudden.]
Skew, skū, adj. oblique: intersecting a road, river, &c. not at right angles, as a bridge.—adv. awry: obliquely.—v.t. to turn aside.—n. a deviation, a mistake: a squint: (archit.) the sloping top of a buttress slanting off against a wall.—ns. Skew′-arch, an arch standing obliquely on its abutments; Skew′-back (archit.), the course of masonry on the top of an abutment with a slope for the base of the arch to rest against.—adj. Skew′-bald, spotted irregularly, piebald.—n. Skew′-bridge, a bridge having its arch or arches set obliquely on its abutments, as when a railway crosses a road, &c., at an oblique angle.—adjs. Skewed, distorted; Skew-gee′ (coll.), crooked.—n. Skew′-wheel, a bevel-wheel with teeth formed obliquely on the rim. [Old Dut. schūwen (Dut. schuwen); Ger. scheuen, to shun; cf. Shy.]
Skewer, skū′ėr, n. a pin of wood or iron for keeping meat in form while roasting.—v.t. to fasten with skewers. [Prov. Eng. skiver, prob. the same as shiver, a splinter of wood.]
Skiascopy, skī′a-skō-pi, n. the shadow-test for measuring the refraction of an eye.—Also Scī′ascopy. [Gr. skia, a shadow, skopein, to view.]
Skid, skid, n. a piece of timber hung against a ship's side to protect it from injury: a sliding wedge or drag to check the wheel of a wagon on a steep place: a slab put below a gun to keep it off the ground.—v.t. to check with a skid.—v.i. to slide along without revolving.—n. Skid′der, one who uses a skid. [Scand., Ice. skídh; A.S. scíd, a piece split off.]
Skiey, skī′i, adj. Same as Skyey.
Skiff, skif, n. a small light boat. [A doublet of ship.]
Skiff, skif, adj. (prov.) distorted: awkward.
Skill, skil, n. knowledge of anything: dexterity in practice.—v.i. to understand, to be dexterous in: to make a difference, to signify.—adj. Skil′ful, having or displaying skill: dexterous.—adv. Skil′fully.—n. Skil′fulness.—adjs. Skilled, having skill: skilful: expert; Skil′less (Shak.), wanting skill, artless. [Scand., as Ice. skil, a distinction, skilja, to separate.]