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 < ?

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

And skewer others: the butterfly keyboard, FineWoven cases, walled gardens, Siri and AirPower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

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

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

If you are not used to eyeballing this process, use a bamboo skewer or other way to measure the depth after each liquid addition.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2024

And I'm not just talking about the onions in the pan or the shawarma turning on the skewer, but the crowd.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda