I. ˈskrimˌshȯ noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of skrimshander
1. : any of various carved or engraved useful or decorative articles (as canes, cribbage boards, corset stays, snuff boxes, or small pieces of statuary) sometimes colored by brushing ink into the engraved lines and made especially by American whalemen especially from whalebone or whale ivory
2. : scrimshawed work
a large collection of scrimshaw
3. : the art, practice, or technique of producing scrimshaw
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to carve or engrave (as a whale's tooth or jawbone) into scrimshaw
intransitive verb
: to produce scrimshaw