skeleton
UK /ˈskɛlɪtən/ · US /ˈskɛlətən/ noun, verb
Forms skeletons skeleta skeletoning skeletoned sceleton
- noun (anatomy) The system that provides support to an organism, where in vertebrates it is internal and consists of bones and cartilage, and external in some other animals.
- noun An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton. “Her whimsical Halloween decorations include dancing skeletons who sing an eerie song.”
- noun (figuratively) A very thin person. “She lost so much weight while she was ill that she became a skeleton.”
- noun (figuratively) The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure; an outline of a longer project. “The skeleton of the organisation is essentially the same as it was ten years ago, but many new faces have come and gone.”
- noun (architecture) A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.
- noun (computing, middleware) A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub. “In remote method invocation, the client helper is a ‘stub’ and the service helper is a ‘skeleton’.”
- noun (geometry) The vertices and edges of a polyhedron, taken collectively.
- noun (category theory) A full subcategory of another category, consisting of one object from each isomorphism class in the original.
- verb (transitive, archaic) To reduce to a skeleton; to skin; to skeletonize.
- verb (transitive, archaic) To minimize.
- noun (sports, uncountable) A type of tobogganing in which competitors lie face down, and descend head first.
- noun (countable) The form of toboggan used in this sport.
Synonyms
backbone ottomy skellington skeleton tobogganing skeleton sliding skeleton in the closet skeleton in the cupboard skeletal system frame systema skeletale skeletal frame underframe
Etymology
From New Latin sceleton, from Ancient Greek σκελετόν (skeletón), the neuter of σκελετός (skeletós, “dried up, withered, dried body, parched, mummy”), from σκέλλω (skéllō, “dry, dry up, make dry, parch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- (“to parch, wither”); compare Ancient Greek σκληρός (sklērós, “hard”).
The etymology of the term is disputed between two versions.
* From the sled used, which originally was a bare frame, like a skeleton.
* From Norwegian kjaelke (a type of ice sled) through a bad anglicization as "skele".
Webster’s 1913
- noun (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.
- noun Hence, figuratively: (a) A very thin or lean person.
- adjective Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal. Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.] -- Skeleton key, a key with nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid the wards of a lock; a master key; --used for opening locks to which it has not been especially fitted.
Etymology [NL., fr. Gr. 1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal. Note: [See Illust. of the Human Skeleton, in Appendix.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “skeleton”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details