v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. split or pare (hides, leather, etc.).
2 intr. Brit. sl. a evade a duty, shirk. b (often foll. by off) avoid work by absenting oneself, play truant.
--n. sl.
1. an instance of shirking.
2 an easy option.
Derivatives:
skiver n.
Etymology: ON sk{iacute}fa, rel. to ME schive slice