skein

1 of 2

noun

ˈskān 

1

or less commonly 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 (such as geese or ducks) in flight

skein

2 of 2

verb

skeined; skeining; skeins

transitive verb

: to wind into skeins

skein yarn

Examples of skein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of the biggest advantages of shopping local is these stores oftentimes have unique skeins that were dyed locally, meaning no two skeins are alike! —Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2025

This yarn skein is $10 for 170 yards and is more than enough to make several amigurumi projects. —Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025

Hundreds of new skeins are being added, including new brands and Joann private label favorites. —Chad Murphy, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025

This yarn is dyed by hand so every skein is unique. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for skein

• ane
• bane
• blain
• brain
• cane
• chaine
• cheyne
• deign
• drain
• fain
• fane
• feign

Kids Definition

skein

noun

ˈskān

: a looped length of yarn or thread put up in a loose twist after it is taken from the reel