From Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary (an oft-visited site):
SKEIN
n. Etymology: Middle English skeyne, from Middle French (Picard) escagne, probably from Vulgar Latin *scamnia, from *scamniare to wind yarn, from *scamnium rack for holding bobbins, from Latin scamnum bench, stool
1: also skean or skeane \skān\ : a loosely coiled length of yarn or thread wound on a reel
2: something suggesting the twists or coils of a skein : tangle
3: a flock of wildfowl (as geese or ducks) in flight
I had no idea "skein" applied to flying birds!
No comments:
Post a Comment