skin

skin [skin]

n.

[ME skinn < ON, akin to Ger schinden, to flay, peel < IE * (s)ken(d)-, to split off (< base * sek-, to cut: see SAW¹) > OIr ceinn, a scale, scurf]

1. the outer covering or integument of the animal body

2. such a covering, esp. that of a small animal, when removed from the body and prepared for use; pelt

3. something like skin in appearance or function; any outer layer, as fruit rind, the shell or plating of a ship, a film or scum, the outermost nacreous layer in a pearl, etc.

4. a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids

☆ 5. [pl.] Slang a set of drums, esp. in a jazz band

☆ 6. Slang a dollar

vt.

skinned, skinning

1. to cover with or as with skin; grow skin on

2. to remove skin from

3. to strip or peel off, as or like skin

4. to injure by scraping or abrading (one's knee, elbow, etc.)

5. Informal

a) to defraud or cheat; swindle

☆ b) to criticize or scold severely

☆ 6. Informal to drive or urge on (a mule, ox, etc.)

vi.

1. to become covered with skin

2. Informal to climb ( up or down)

3. to move (through), pass ( by), succeed, etc. by a very narrow margin

adj.

Slang depicting or involving nudity and, sometimes, explicit sexual activity [skin magazine]

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☆ be no skin off one's nose or be no skin off one's back

Informal to affect one not at all; be of no direct concern to one

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by the skin of one's teeth

by the smallest possible margin; barely

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☆ get under someone's skin

Informal to anger or irritate someone

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have a thick skin or have a thin skin

to be insensitive (or acutely sensitive) to blame, criticism, insults, etc.

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save one's skin

Informal to avoid harm or injury; esp., to escape death

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skin alive Informal

☆ 1. to scold or punish severely

2. to defeat decisively

SYN.- SKIN is the general term for the outer covering of the animal body and for the covering, especially if thin and tight, of certain fruits and vegetables [human skin, the skin of a peach ]; HIDE¹ is used of the tough skins of certain large animals, as of a horse, cow, elephant, etc.; PELT² refers to the skin, esp. the untanned skin, of a fur-bearing animal, as of a mink, fox, sheep, etc.; RIND applies to the thick, tough covering of certain fruits, as of a watermelon, or of cheeses, bacon, etc.; PEEL¹ is used of the skin or rind of fruit that has been removed, as by stripping [potato peel, lemon peel]; BARK¹ applies to the hard covering of trees and woody plants