skill
1[ skil ]
/ skɪl /
noun
the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well: Carpentry was one of his many skills.
competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity: The dancers performed with skill.
a craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience: the skill of cabinetmaking.
Obsolete. understanding; discernment.
Obsolete. reason; cause.
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RELATED WORDS
dexterity, artistry, accomplishment, prowess, ingenuity, art, intelligence, technique, finesse, experience, proficiency, quickness, job, readiness, expertise, clout, savvy, know-how, competence, expertness
Nearby words
- skikda,
- skil saw,
- skilfish,
- skilful,
- skilfully,
- skill set,
- skill-less,
- skillcentre,
- skilled,
- skilled labor
Origin of skill
11125–75; Middle English < Old Norse skil distinction, difference; cognate with Dutch geschil difference, quarrel. See skill2
SYNONYMS FOR skill
skill
2[ skil ]
/ skɪl /
verb (used without object) Archaic.
to matter.
to help; avail.
Origin of skill
21150–1200; Middle English skilien < Old Norse skilja to distinguish, divide, akin to skil (see skill1), Old English scylian to separate, Gothic skilja butcher, Lithuanian skélti to split
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for skill
skill
/ (skɪl) /
noun
special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training
something, esp a trade or technique, requiring special training or manual proficiency
obsolete understanding
Word Origin for skill
C12: from Old Norse skil distinction; related to Middle Low German schēle, Middle Dutch geschil difference
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
skill
late 12c., "power of discernment," from Old Norse skil "distinction, ability to make out, discernment, adjustment," related to skilja (v.) "to separate; discern, understand," from Proto-Germanic *skaljo- "divide, separate" (cf. Swedish skäl "reason," Danish skjel "a separation, boundary, limit," Middle Low German schillen "to differ," Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schele "separation, discrimination;" see shell (n.)). Sense of "ability, cleverness" first recorded early 13c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper