sky
Preserved but no longer current.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “sky” mean?
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.
Is “sky” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.