Skin

skin, n. the natural outer covering of an animal body: a hide: the bark or rind of plants, .: the inside covering of the ribs of a ship: a drink of whisky hot.— v.t. to cover with skin: to cover the surface of: to strip the skin from, to peel: to plunder, cheat: to answer an examination paper, ., by unfair means.— v.i. to become covered with skin: to sneak off:— pr.p. skin′ning; pa.t. and pa.p. skinned.— adj. Skin′-deep , as deep as the skin only: superficial.— ns. Skin′flint , one who takes the smallest gains: a very niggardly person; Skin′ful , as much as one can hold, esp. of liquor.— adj. Skin′le , having no skin, or a very thin one.— ns. Skin′ner ; Skin′nine .— adjs. Skin′ny , consisting of skin or of skin only: wanting flesh; Skin′-tight , fitting close to the skin.— n. Skin′-wool , wool pulled from the skin of a dead sheep.— By , or With , the skin of one's teeth , very narrowly; Clean skins , unbranded cattle; Save one's skin , to escape without injury. [A.S. scinn ; Ice. skinn , skin, Ger. schinden , to flay.]