skip

skip · verb, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*skewbʰ-“to push, throw, shake”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*skupjaną
3. Middle English · derived fromskippen
4. English todayskip

From Middle English skippen, skyppen, of North Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skupjaną, perhaps related to *skeubaną (“to drive, push”), iterative *skuppōną (“to push/move repeatedly, skip”), from Proto-Indo-European *skewbʰ- (“to push, throw, shake”). Related to Icelandic skopa (“to take a run”), Old Swedish skuppa (“to skip”), modern dialectal Swedish skopa, skimpa (“to skip, leap”), and English shove. See also dialectal English skimp (“to mock”) (Etymology 1), considered by some to be related.

skip · noun, verb²

1. Middle Low German · derived fromscheppe“a unit of weight”
2. Old Norse · derived fromskeppa
3. Old English · inherited fromsceppe
4. Middle English · inherited fromskep
5. English todayskip

From Middle English skep, skeppe, from Old English sceppe, from Old Norse skeppa, skjappa (“basket, bushel, measure”), perhaps from Middle Low German scheppe (“a unit of weight”), perhaps related to Middle Low German schēpel (“buschel, measurement for grain”), German Scheffel (“bushel”). These could all ultimately be related to *skap (“shape”).

skip · noun, verb³

1. Middle Low German · derived fromschipper“captain”
2. Middle English · inherited fromskipper
3. English todayskip

Late Middle English skipper, borrowed from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German schipper (“captain”), earlier "seaman", from schip (“ship”).

skip · noun⁴

A reference to the television series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo; coined and used by Australians (particularly children) of non-British descent to counter derogatory terms aimed at them. Ultimately from etymology 1 (above).

skip · noun⁵

17th-century Ireland. Possibly a clipping of skip-kennel (“young lackey or assistant”). Used at Trinity College Dublin.

skip · noun⁶

Clipping of skip-level manager.

Words from the same roots