SKILLINGS
Proper noun
Skillings
An English surname that originated in Norfolk, of unknown derivation.
Noun
skillings
plural of skilling
Source: Wiktionary
SKILLING
Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. Sheeling.]
Definition: A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov.
Eng.]
Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling.]
Definition: A money od account in Sweden, Norwey, Denmark, and North
Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths
of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in LĂĽbeck.
SKILL
Skill, n. Etym: [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to
skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja,. skille to
separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. skäl reason, Lith. skelli
to cleave. Cf. Shell, Shoal, a multitude.]
1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obs.] Shak.
"As it was skill and right." Chaucer.
For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. Chaucer.
[For with good reason he should test what he created.]
2. Knowledge; understanding. [Obsoles.]
That by his fellowship he color mightskill of any wight. Spenser.
Nor want we skill or art. Milton.
3. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with
readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the
application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to
discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness;
aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon,
mechanic, etc.
Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations,
diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift.
Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble.
4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obs.]
Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn
as if he meant not to return. Fuller.
5. Any particular art. [Obs.]
Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful.
Hooker.
Syn.
– Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability.
– Skill, Dexterity, Adroitness. Skill is more intelligent, denoting
familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity,
when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual
ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity,
and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement
(especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty).
The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A
man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory
and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great
lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well-
directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the
object he has in view.
Skill, v. t.
Definition: To know; to understand. [Obs.]
To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow.
Skill, v. i.
1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in
performance. [Obs.]
I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert.
2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally.
Spenser.
What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold About thy neck do drown
thee Herbert.
It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition