skimming

[skim-ing]

noun

1. Usually skimmings. floating matter that is removed from the surface of a liquid.

2. Metallurgy.,  skimmings, dross.

3. Slang.,  the practice of concealing gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, commissions, etc..

   An audit of their cleaning business uncovered several years of skimming.

4. the practice of electronically appropriating account numbers or other confidential data for illegal use.

   A chip is embedded in the credit card to prevent skimming.

Word History and Origins

Origin of skimming¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English skemmyng; skim, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Cleanup teams are skimming and pumping oil from the tributary and deploying absorbent booms and pads to recover oil trapped along the creek bed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’ll put down in a clearing in the woods, if I can,” the admiral said, frantically letting air out of the balloon until they were skimming the treetops.

Read more on Literature

The Incorrigible children slid more gracefully off their mounts and began to sniff at the air, while the three smaller wolves ran in tight circles, whimpering and skimming their muzzles along the ground.

Read more on Literature

When reading this advert, you would be forgiven for skimming over the words "first-steps", as a turn of phrase.

Read more on BBC

He dodged left and right, then swooped low, skimming the water.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• bribery 
• crime 
• exploitation 
• extortion 
• fraud 
• graft 
• malfeasance 
• nepotism