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. skiver n.
[ ON sk¡fa, rel. to ME schive slice ]