skean

S1K5E1A1N1
UK/ˈskiːn/US/ˈskin/

noun

A double-edged, leaf-shaped, typically bronze dagger formerly used in Ireland and Scotland.

Similar
sgian dubh
OriginMiddle English skene ← Middle Irish scian ← Old Irish scían →
RareFirst used 19th c.Scrabble 9
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Meanings

skean1

nounskean (plural skeans)

plural skeans

  1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of skein.First known use 19th c.

skean2

nounskean (plural skeans)

plural skeans · alternative skene · alternative skeyn

  1. IrelandScotlandhistoricalA double-edged, leaf-shaped, typically bronze dagger formerly used in Ireland and Scotland.
  2. ScotlandSynonym of sgian dubh (“a small, single-edged knife worn tucked into the hose (stocking) as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt”).

    Synonyms: sgian dubh

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of sgian dubh (“a small, single-edged knife worn tucked into the hose (stocking) as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt”).

Similar
sgian dubh

Origin

skean · noun

See skein.

Full word history & related roots →

skean · noun

  1. Proto-Celtic*skiyenā
  2. Old Irishscían
  3. Middle Irishscian
  4. Middle Englishskene
  5. Englishskean

Inherited from Middle English skene, from Middle Irish scian, from Old Irish scían, from Proto-Celtic *skiyenā.

More words from Middle English, Middle Irish, Old Irish

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with skean

beenbetweengreenmagazinemeanseenscreenmachinecleangenescenedeanjeanroutineHalloweenbeancuisinevaccineEugeneChristineleanfifteengasolinekeen
All rhymes →

Anagrams

snakesneakKasen
Cite this entry
APA

skean. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skean

MLA

“skean.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skean. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “skean,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skean.

Source: skean on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.