I. ˈskin noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse skinn; akin to Old English scinn skin, Middle High German schint fruit peel
Date: 13th century
1.
a.
(1) : the integument of an animal (as a fur-bearing mammal or a bird) separated from the body usually with its hair or feathers
(2) : a usually unmounted specimen of a vertebrate (as in a museum)
b. : the hide or pelt of a game or domestic animal
c.
(1) : the pelt of an animal prepared for use as a trimming or in a garment — compare hide IV
(2) : a sheet of parchment or vellum made from a hide
(3) : bottle 1b
2.
a. : the external limiting tissue layer of an animal body ; especially : the 2-layered covering of a vertebrate body consisting of an outer epidermis and an inner dermis
b. : an outer covering (as a rind or husk) of a fruit or seed
c. : a membranous film or scum (as on boiling milk or drying paint)
3. : the life or physical well-being of a person
saved his own skin
4. : a sheathing or casing forming the outside surface of a structure (as a ship or airplane)
• skin·less -ləs adjective
•
- by the skin of one's teeth
- under one's skin
- under the skin
II. verb
( skinned ; skin·ning )
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to strip, scrape, or rub off an outer covering (as the skin or rind) of
b. : to strip or peel off
c. : to cut, chip, or damage the surface of
fell and skinned my knee
2.
a. : to cover with or as if with skin
b. : to heal over with skin
3.
a. : to strip of money or property : fleece
b. : to defeat badly
c. : censure , castigate
4. : to urge on and direct the course of (as a draft animal)
intransitive verb
1. : to become covered with or as if with skin
2.
a. : shinny
b. : to pass or get by with scant room to spare
III. adjective
Date: circa 1935
: involving subjects who are nude
expected to conduct skin searches for weapons — Diane K. Shah
especially : devoted to showing nudes
skin magazines