I. ˈskān 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 ˈskān : 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
II. transitive verb
Date: circa 1775
: to wind into skeins
skein yarn