skimmery
St. Mary Hall, Oxford.—University.
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skin
In a bad skin; out of temper, in an ill humour. Thin-skinned: touchy, peevish.
skin
A purse. This term is mostly in use among thieves.
skin and blister
A sister.
skin and bones
Extremely thin or emaciated
skin flint
An avaricious man or woman,
skin flute
A penis.
skin in the game
Having a personal stake or investment in something
skin trade
The sex industry or prostitution
skin-the-lamb
A game at cards, a very expressive corruption of the term "lansquenet," also a racing term. When a non-favourite wins a race, bookmakers are said to SKIN THE LAMB, under the supposition that they win all their bets, no person having backed the winner. This has been corrupted into SKINNER.
skinflint
An old and popular simile for a "close-fisted," stingy person. Sternberg, in his Northamptonshire Glossary, says the Eastern languages have the same expression. Abdul-Malek, one of the Ommeyade Khaliphs, noted for his extreme avarice, was surnamed Raschal-Hegiarah, literally, "the SKINNER of a FLINT."
skink
To skink, is to wait on the company, ring the bell, stir the fire, and snuff the candles; the duty of the youngest officer in the military mess. See BOOTS.
skinner
A term among bookmakers. "May we have a SKINNER," i.e., may we SKIN THE LAMB, which see.
skinny Liz
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
skinny Minnie
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
skins
The drums.
skint
Penniless, poor, impecunious, broke.
skip a beat
experience a brief pause in one's heartbeat due to surprise or excitement
skip jacks
Youngsters that ride horses on sale, horse-dealers boys. Also a plaything made for children with the breast bone of a goose.
skip out
to leave a place or situation quickly and secretly
skip rope
to jump over a swinging rope as exercise or play
skipper
A barn. CANT.--Also the captain of a Dutch vessel.
skipper
The master of a vessel. Germ., SCHIFFER, from SCHIFF, a ship; sometimes used as synonymous with "governor."
skipper-birds
Or KEYHOLE-WHISTLERS, persons who sleep in barns or outhouses from necessity or in preference to sleeping in lodging-houses.
skipper-it
To sleep in the open air, or in a rough way.
skirt chaser
A man who constantly pursues women for romantic or sexual relationships
skit
A joke. A satirical hint.
skit
A joke, a squib. Term generally used in reference to any pungent or pointed political allusion.
skittles
A game similar to that of Ten Pins, which, when interdicted by the Government, was altered to Nine Pins, or SKITTLES. The pins are set up in an alley, and thrown (not bowled) at with a round piece of hard wood, shaped like a small flat cheese. The costers used to consider themselves the best players in London, but they have been frequently undeceived. SKITTLES has within the past few years received an awful blow—quite a floorer—from "the powers that be."
skittles party
A fun and lively social gathering
skow-banker
A fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him, and who objects to the necessity of working for his living; a rogue, a rascal. Common in Melbourne, Australia.
skreet
street.
skrouge
To push or squeeze.—North.
skulker
A soldier who by feigned sickness, or other pretences, evades his duty; a sailor who keeps below in time of danger; in the civil line, one who keeps out of the way, when any work is to be done. To skulk; to hide one's self, to avoid labour or duty.
skull and bones
a symbol of danger or death
skull and crossbones
a symbol indicating poison or danger
skull-thatcher
A straw-bonnet-maker,—sometimes called "a bonnet-BUILDER."
skullie
A skulldog.
skunk
A mean or paltry fellow, one whose name stinks.
skunk at a garden party
An unwelcome person who spoils a social gathering
skunker
A skunk.
sky
A disagreeable person, an enemy.—Westminster School. The word derived its origin from a corruption of the last syllable of the word "VOLSCI:" Westminster boys being of course understood to be the Romans.
sky blue
To express the assured hope that the deceased has gone to heaven; used in Syria, Armenia, etc.
sky daddy
A god.
sky farmers
Cheats who pretend they were farmers in the isle of Sky, or some other remote place, and were ruined by a flood, hurricane, or some such public calamity: or else called sky farmers from their farms being IN NUBIBUS, 'in the clouds.'
sky juice
Rain.
sky parlour
The garret, or upper story.
sky-blue
London milk much diluted with water, or from which the cream has been too closely skimmed.
sky-scraper
A tall man; "Are you cold up there, old SKY-SCRAPER?" Properly a sea-term. The light sails, which some adventurous skippers set above the royals in calm latitudes, are termed SKY-SCRAPERS and MOON-RAKERS.
sky-wannocking
Unsteady frolicking.—Norfolk.
slab
Thick, as gruel, porridge, &c.
slabbering bib
A parson or lawyer's band.
slack
"to hold on the SLACK," to skulk; a slack rope not requiring to be held.—Sea.
slack and white striped
To express sorrow and hope. The mourning of the South Sea Islanders.
slack up
to become or make something less tight or less intense
slag
A slack-mettled fellow, one not ready to resent an affront.
slam
A trick; also a game at whist lost without scoring one. To slam to a door; to shut it with violence.
slam
A term at the game of whist. When two partners gain the whole thirteen tricks, they win a SLAM, which is considered equal to a rubber.
slam down
to put something down forcefully
slam dunk
An achievement that is easily and certainly successful
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