n.
Pronunciation: ' sk ā n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English skeyne, from Middle French (Picard) escagne, probably from Vulgar Latin *scamnia, from *scamniare to wind yarn, from *scamnium rack for holding bobbins, from Latin scamnum bench, stool ― more at SHAMBLES
Date: 14th century
1 also skean or skeane \ ' sk ā n \ : a loosely coiled length of yarn or thread wound on a reel
2 : something suggesting the twists or coils of a skein : TANGLE
3 : a flock of wildfowl (as geese or ducks) in flight