skin

[[t]skɪn[/t]]

n. v. skinned, skin•ning, adj.

1) anat. zool. the external covering or integument of an animal body, esp. when soft and flexible

2) such an integument stripped from the body of an animal, esp. a small animal; pelt:

a beaver skin[/ex]

3) clo the tanned or treated hide of an animal; leather (usu. used in combination):

calfskin[/ex]

4) bot any integumentary covering, casing, outer coating, or surface layer, as an investing membrane, the rind of fruit, or a film on liquid

5) cvb a casing, as of metal or plastic, around an object:

the skin of a computer monitor[/ex]

6) a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids, esp. wine

7) sts skins, Slang. drums

8) sts Slang. a dollar bill

9) to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk

10) to remove or strip off (any covering, surface layer, etc.)

11) to scrape or rub a small piece of skin from (a part of the body), as in falling

12) to urge on, drive, or whip (a draft animal, as a mule or ox)

13) to climb or jump:

to skin a wall with one leap[/ex]

14) to cover with or as if with skin

15) sts to strip of money or belongings; fleece, as in gambling

16)

a) sts showing or featuring nude persons, often in a sexually explicit way:

a skin magazine[/ex]

b) presenting films, shows, etc., that feature nude persons, esp. in a sexually explicit way:

a notorious skin house[/ex]

•

- by the skin of one's teeth get under one's skin have a thick (or thin) skin

Etymology: 1150–1200; ME (n.) < ON skinn, akin to MLG schinden to flay, peel, OHGscindan