skene

[ skee-nee ]

/ ˈski ni /

noun, plural ske·nai [skee-nahy] /ˈski naɪ/.

(in the ancient Greek theater) a structure facing the audience and forming the background before which performances were given.

Nearby words

skelp, skelter, skelton, skelton, john, sken, skene, skene dhu, skep, skepful, skeptic, skeptical

Origin of skene

< Greek skēnḗ; see scene

Definition for skene (2 of 2)

skene

[ skeen ]

/ skin /

noun

skean.

Examples from the Web for skene

Cashel spoke always of Mrs. Skene as "mother," and of Mrs. Byron as "mamma."
Cashel Byron's Profession|George Bernard Shaw
Meat is meat after all, and to keep him healthy Skene had been dieted a good deal upon biscuit.
Steve Young|George Manville Fenn
Mr. Skene does not pretend to prove that he passed from England to Scotland and founded the family there.
The Clan Fraser in Canada|Alexander Fraser
Skene says this “is the oldest authentic notice of St. Patrick.”
Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum|John Healy

“All transcripts,” says Skene, “show the orthography and forms of their period” of transcription.
Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum|John Healy

Word Origin and History for skene

skene

ancient type of Celtic dagger found in Ireland, double-edged and leaf-like, 1520s, from Irish Gaelic scian (genitive sceine) "knife," cognate with Gaelic sgian "knife," Welsh ysgien "a slicer," from PIE *skiy-ena-, from root *skei- "to divide, split" (see shed (v.)).