noun

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. ☆ Slang a set of drums, esp. in a jazz band
6. ☆ Slang a dollar

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

transitive verb skinned, skinning skin′·ning

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
   1. to defraud or cheat; swindle
   2. ☆ to criticize or scold severely
6. ☆ Informal to drive or urge on (a mule, ox, etc.)

intransitive verb

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

adjective