skunk.html - n. & v.
--n.

1 a any of various cat-sized flesh-eating mammals of the family Mustelidae, esp. Mephitis mephitis having a distinctive black and white striped fur and able to emit a powerful stench from a liquid secreted by its anal glands as a defence. b its fur.
2 colloq. a thoroughly contemptible person.

--v.

tr.
1 US sl. defeat.
2 fail to pay (a bill etc.).

skunk-bear US a wolverine. skunk-cabbage US a herbaceous plant, Lysichiton americanum, with an offensive-smelling spathe. [Amer. Ind. segankw, segongw]

skunk.html - n. & v.
--n.

1 a any of various cat-sized flesh-eating mammals of the family Mustelidae, esp. Mephitis mephitis having a distinctive black and white striped fur and able to emit a powerful stench from a liquid secreted by its anal glands as a defence. b its fur.
2 colloq. a thoroughly contemptible person.

--v.

tr.
1 US sl. defeat.
2 fail to pay (a bill etc.).

skunk-bear US a wolverine. skunk-cabbage US a herbaceous plant, Lysichiton americanum, with an offensive-smelling spathe. [Amer. Ind. segankw, segongw]

skunk.html - n.
any large predatory sea bird of the family Stercorariidae which pursues other birds and makes them disgorge the fish they have caught. [mod.L f. Faroese skÇgvur, ON skÇfr]

skunk.html - n.
(also sculduggery, skullduggery) trickery; unscrupulous behaviour. [earlier sculduddery, orig. Sc. = unchastity (18th c.: orig. unkn.)]

skunk.html - v. & n.
--v.

intr.
1 move stealthily, lurk, or keep oneself concealed, esp. in a cowardly or sinister way.
2 stay or sneak away in time of danger.
3 shirk duty.

--n.

1 a person who skulks.
2 a company of foxes.

skulker n. [ME f. Scand.: cf. Norw. skulka lurk, Da. skulke, Sw. skolka shirk]

skunk.html - n.
1 the bony case of the brain of a vertebrate.
2 a the part of the skeleton corresponding to the head. b this with the skin and soft internal parts removed. c a representation of this.
3 the head as the seat of intelligence.

out of one's skull sl. out of one's mind, crazy. skull and crossbones a representation of a skull with two thigh-bones crossed below it as an emblem of piracy or death. skull session US sl. a discussion or conference.

skulled adj. (also in comb.). [ME scolle: orig. unkn.]