SKATE

I. noun (plural ~s; also ~) Etymology: Middle English scate, from Old Norse skata Date: 14th century any of a family (Rajidae, especially genus Raja ) of rays with the pectoral fins greatly developed giving the fish a flat diamond shape, II. noun see: shake Date: 1684 1. a metal frame that can be fitted to the sole of a shoe and to which is attached a runner or a set of wheels for gliding over ice or a surface other than ice, roller ~ , ice ~ , a period of skating, III. verb (~d; skating) Date: 1696 intransitive verb to glide along on ~s propelled by the alternate action of the legs, to slip or glide as if on ~s, to proceed in a superficial or blithe manner, transitive verb to go along or through by skating, IV. noun Etymology: probably alteration of English dialect skite an offensive person Date: 1894 a thin awkward-looking or decrepit horse ; nag , fellow 4c