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 reel2: something suggesting the twists or coils of a skein : tangle3: a flock of wildfowl (as geese or ducks) in flight