skate

skate

skate¹ [skāt]

n.

[taken as sing. of earlier skates < Du schaats, a skate, stilt < NormFr escache < OFr eschace, stilt, crutch < Frank * skatja, stilt]

1.

a) a bladelike metal runner mounted in a frame having clamps and straps for fastening it to the sole of a shoe and used for gliding on ice

b) a shoe with such a runner permanently attached: also

2. ice skate

3. a similar frame or shoe with a pair of small wheels near the toe and another pair at the heel, for gliding on a hardwood floor, sidewalk, etc.: also roller skate

4. IN-LINE SKATE

5. the act or a period of skating

vi.

skated, skating

to move along or glide on or as on skates

skater

n.

skate² [skāt]

n.

pl. skates or skate [ME scate < ON skata]

any ray fish (esp. order Rajiformes): often used as the name for the larger commercial species

skate³ [skāt]

n.

[< ?] [Old Slang] Slang former

☆ 1. a broken-down horse; nag

2. a person: now only in good skate, a congenial, likable person