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

Since they formed in 2019, the artists have gained an international reputation for employing the slick tropes of marketing and fashion to playfully skewer consumerism and supply-chain systems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The play, which is having its Los Angeles premiere at Pasadena Playhouse, seems like it could have been commissioned to skewer this destructive, benighted and completely mortifying anti-science moment.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2025

Every political campaign needs a good slogan – a snappy phrase to energise voters and skewer opponents.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2025

With the new series, Sadler wants to continue to "skewer" topical issues and taboo subjects.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

Nate holds out his plate to Zara, wordlessly requesting a second skewer.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam