Main Entry: ¹skein

Pronunciation: \ˈskān\

Function: noun

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 — more at shambles

Date: 14th century

1also skean or skeane \ˈskān\ : 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