skink Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun alert agile lizard with reduced limbs and an elongated body covered with shiny scales; more dependent on moisture than most lizards; found in tropical regions worldwide
    scincid lizard; scincid.

WordNet

Skink noun
Etymology
L. scincus, Gr. .
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family Scincidæ, common in the warmer parts of all the continents. ✍ The officinal skink (Scincus officinalis) inhabits the sandy plains of South Africa. It was believed by the ancients to be a specific for various diseases. A common slender species (Seps tridactylus) of Southern Europe was formerly believed to produce fatal diseases in cattle by mere contact. The American skinks include numerous species of the genus Eumeces, as the blue-tailed skink (E. fasciatus) of the Eastern United States. The ground skink, or ground lizard (Oligosoma laterale) inhabits the Southern United States.
Skink transitive verb
Etymology
Icel. skenja; akin to Sw. skäka, Dan. skienke, AS. scencan, D. & G. schenken. As. scencan is usually derived from sceonc, sceanc, shank, a hollow bone being supposed to have been used to draw off liquor from a cask. See Shank, and cf. Nunchion.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Skinked ; present participle & verbal noun Skinking
Definitions
  1. To draw or serve, as drink. Obs.
    Bacchus the wine them skinketh all about. Chaucer.
    Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. Shirley.
Skink intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To serve or draw liquor. Obs.
Skink noun
Definitions
  1. Drink; also, pottage. Obs. Bacon.

Webster 1913