skeleton
noun
- supporting structure of the body
- winter sport
- mathematical structure
- undead creature
- sum of all parts of the human skeletal system
- frame of incomplete building
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈskɛlɪtən/ / /ˈskɛlətən/ / [ˈskɛləʔn̩]
noun
Etymology: The etymology of the term is disputed between two versions. * From the sled used, which originally was a bare frame, like a skeleton. * From Norwegian kjaelke (a type of ice sled) through a bad anglicization as "skele".
- A type of tobogganing in which competitors lie face down, and descend head first.
“Lugers, who slide feet first and reach the highest speeds, experience some of the same forces, but seem to suffer far fewer concussion-like symptoms than bobsled and skeleton athletes do, probably because a support strap often prevents their heads from banging into the ice.”
- The form of toboggan used in this sport.
verb
Etymology: From New Latin sceleton, from Ancient Greek σκελετόν (skeletón), the neuter of σκελετός (skeletós, “dried up, withered, dried body, parched, mummy”), from σκέλλω (skéllō, “dry, dry up, make dry, parch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- (“to parch, wither”); compare Ancient Greek σκληρός (sklērós, “hard”).
- To reduce to a skeleton; to skin; to skeletonize.
- To minimize.