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Webster 1913 Edition


Skimmer

Skim′mer

,
Noun.
1.
One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.
2.
(Zool.)
Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus
Rhynchops
, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species (
Rhynchops nigra
) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also
scissorbill
, and
shearbill
.
3.
(Zool.)
Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.

Webster 1828 Edition


Skimmer

SKIM'MER

,
Noun.
1.
An utensil in the form of a scoop; used for skimming liquors.
2.
One that skims over a subject.
3.
A sea fowl, the cut-water.

Definition 2024


skimmer

skimmer

English

Wikispecies

Noun

skimmer (plural skimmers)

  1. A device that skims.
    1. A sieve-like, slotted spoon.
    2. A device used to read and record the magnetic code from a credit card for later fraudulent use.
  2. A person who skims.
  3. Any of three species of bird in the genus Rynchops of the family Laridae, that feed by skimming the surface of water bodies with their bills in flight.
  4. Any of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, such as the sea clams and large scallops.
  5. A ballet flat shoe.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Northern variant of shimmer.

Verb

skimmer (third-person singular simple present skimmers, present participle skimmering, simple past and past participle skimmered)

  1. To shimmer.
  2. To move quickly, to flutter.
    • 1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, Oxford 2010, p. 9:
      …he was bounding over the heads of the maidens, and making his feet skimmer against the ceiling, enjoying, the while, the most ecstatic emotions.