skewer

American  

[skyoo-er] / ˈskyu ər /

noun

1. a long pin of wood or metal for inserting through meat or other food to hold or bind it in cooking.

2. any similar pin for fastening or holding an item in place.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fasten with or as if with a skewer.

skewer British  

/ ˈskjʊə /

noun

1. a long pin for holding meat in position while being cooked, etc

2. a similar pin having some other function

3. chess a tactical manoeuvre in which an attacked man is made to move and expose another man to capture

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verb

1. (tr) to drive a skewer through or fasten with a skewer

Other Word Forms

• unskewered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of skewer

First recorded in 1670–80; earlier skiver < ?

Explanation

The pointed wooden stick you use to hold cubes of meat or vegetables together while they're cooking is called a skewer. You can also use a very long skewer to toast marshmallows over a campfire. As a verb, skewer means to push a skewer through food: "Would you skewer those shrimps, and toss them on the grill?" It's also an informal term meaning to criticize someone so harshly that it probably hurts them: "This opinion piece in the newspaper really skewers the President." Experts guess that skewer has a Scandinavian root, possibly the Old Norse skifa, "a cut or slice."

Example Sentences

Skewer, then grill vegetables to turn them velvety soft and add flavor.

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2023

Skewer marshmallow on a stick or any flame-proof implement that will allow you to keep a safe distance from the fire.

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2022

I’m sure it would look different when compared head-to-head, but I simply couldn’t tell the difference mid-match, and so long as I’m getting no-scope shots with the Skewer weapon, I’m happy.

From The Verge • Feb. 11, 2022

Skewer the leaves on a cocktail pin, then fan them out gently.

From Washington Post • May 21, 2021

That is not in the tone of the ditty sung by the Tripe Skewer.

From The Valet's tragedy, and other studies by Lang, Andrew