Skate
in ichthyology, the popular name of any individual of a section of the genus Raia, differing from the rays proper in having a long pointed snout. R. batis, the true skate, is one of the commonest fishes in European waters, and attains a large size. The upper part of the body is dusky ky gray or mottled. The long-nosed skate (R. vomer), between four and five feet in length, has the snout excessively prolonged. The Burton skate (R. marginata) is thicker and heavier than the true skate, and is frequently eight feet SKATE long; the shagreen skate, or Ray (R. fullonica), is rather less than three feet long.
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Skating
progression on ice accomplished by means of instruments composed of steel blades which are fastened to the soles of the boot, and which are called skates. In early times the shinbones of animals were bound to the feet, and skaters glided over the frozen surface on these by propelling themselves with the aid of a spiked stick. At a later period the iron or steel blades were introduced, the cutting edge of which enabled the wearer to dispense with the stick, and to push off with one foot and glide on the other with alternate strokes. Skates are now of two kinds-viz., those made for speed skating and those for figure skating. Both were formerly constructed by inserting the steel blade into a wooden bed, which was approximately shaped to the foot and bound to it by means of leather straps. Modern skates are made entirely of metal, and are fixed either by screws passing through plates (to which the blade is attached) into the sole of the boot, which form of skate is known as the Mount Charles; or they are fixed to the boot by various mechanical devices which enable the skate to be quickly and firmly attached to the boot, and as quickly removed. CC-Cyc Vol 8
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Skeat
WALTER WILLIAM, an English Anglo-Saxon scholar; born born in London, Nov. 21, Nov. 21, 1835. In 1883 he became Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge; was one of the founders of the English Dialect Society; and an authority on early English literature. He edited "The Vision of William Concerning Piers Plowman" (1867-1885); Barbour's "The Bruce" (1870-1889); "Specimens of English Literature, 1298-1579" (1871 and 1872; "The Works of Chaucer" (1894); numerous poems, metrical romances, etc.; compiled "An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language" (1879-1881; 1884); and wrote "A Student's Pastime" (1896); "Notes on English Etymology" (1901), etc. He died in 1912.
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Skeat, Walter William
Walter William (1835-), a noted British scholar. He was a native of London. He was graduated at Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1858, and was connected with the university in some capacity for nearly half a century. Skeat was a noted student of languages. He edited several early English works and the Gospel of St. Mark in Gothic. His reputation rests chiefly on An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language in which he threw light on the origin and relationship of the words in daily use. Skeat tells us, for instance, that the Scotch bairn, an Anglo-Saxon word, is related to bear, birth, born, and burden; that road, another Anglo-Saxon word, is related to ride, raid, and ready; that ripe is akin to reap; suds to sodden; and wagon to wain, weigh, and weight.
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Skelligs
THE, three rocky islets off the the S. W. coast of Ireland, W. of Bolus Head, county Kerry. There are here two lighthouses, visible 18 miles.
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Skerryvore Lighthouse
a lighthouse built on a rock forming part extensive reef lying about an 12 miles S. W. from the wild isle of Tyree on the W. coast of Scotland. Lying in the fairway of vessels making for the Clyde and Mersey, it was long the terror of mari- The reef is exposed to the mighty ners. "fetch" of the Atlantic.
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Skimmer
A tool for preventing the dirt and slag from following the stream as the metal flows from the ladle-lip into the runner. They are simply of wood in some foundries; but generally they consist of a long piece of flat iron bent at one end, or a long light bar to which is welded a stronger piece of flat iron bent to fit the ladle-lip. The self-skimming ladle is intended to obviate the necessity for skimming. See LADLE; LIP.
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Skink
in zoology, a name attached to several species of lizards, mostly of warm countries. They vary considerably. Some have well formed legs and smooth scales, while in others the legs are reduced to mere rudiments. The slow-worm of Europe is a skink. There are several skinks in the United States . All are small, harmless animals a few inches long. See Lizard.
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Skinner
CHARLES RUFUS, an American educator, born at Union Square, N. Y., in 1844. He was educated at Mexico Academy and Clinton Liberal Institution and received honorary degrees from Hamilton, Colgate, and Tufts. From 1867 to 1870 he was engaged in business in New York City; from 1870 to 1874 he was manager and city editor of the "Daily Times," Watertown, N. Y.; from 1877 to 1881 a member of the New York Assembly; from 1881 to 1885 a member of congress; from 1886 to 1892 Deputy State (N. Y.) Superintendent of Public Instruction; from 1892 to 1894 supervisor of Teacher's Institute; from 1895 to 1904 State Superintendent of Public Instruction; from 1906 to 1911 assistant appraiser of the port of New York; and since 1915 Legislative Librarian at Albany, N. Y. He wrote: "New York Question Book" (1890); "Arbor Day Manual" (1891); "Manual of Patriotism for the Schools of New York" (1900); "The Bright Side" (1909).
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Skinner (OTIS an American actor born)
OTIS, an American actor, born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1858. He was educated at Hartford, Conn., in which OTIS SKINNER city he first appeared as an amateur reader and actor. In 1877 he made his professional début in Philadelphia. He then appeared successively at Niblo's, New York; with Lawrence Barrett; with Augustin Da Daly; and with Mme. Modjeska. Since 1895 he has appeared as star in many romantic productions. The best known of his later productions were "Kismet" (1911-1914); "Cock O' the Walk" (1915-1916); "Mr. Antonio" (1916-1918); "The Honor of the Family" (1918-1919); "The Joy of Peter Barban" (1919-1920).
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