Advertisement

Origin and history of skill

skill(n.)

early 12c., "knowledge, divine wisdom;" late 12c., "power of discernment, sound judgment; that which is reasonable," senses all now obsolete, from Old Norse skil "distinction, ability to make out, discernment, adjustment," which is related to skilja (v.) "to separate; discern, understand," from Proto-Germanic *skaljo- "divide, separate" (source also of Swedish skäl "reason," Danish skjel "a separation, boundary, limit," Middle Low German schillen "to differ," Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schele "separation, discrimination;" from PIE root *skel- (1) "to cut").

The sense of "practical knowledge and ability, cleverness" is recorded by early 13c.

also from early 12c.

Entries linking to skill

deskill(v.)

also de-skill, "alter a workplace so as no longer to require skilled workers" (usually through technology), 1941, from de- + skill. Related: Deskilled.

skilled(adj.)

"having the knowledge and ability which comes from experience," 1550s, past-participle adjective from skill (v.) "to have personal and practical knowledge" (c. 1200), which is from Old Norse skilja "to separate, part, divide; break off, break up; part company, take leave; discern, distinguish; understand, find out; decide, settle," from the source of skill (n.).

Advertisement

More to explore

science
mid-14c., "state or fact of knowing; what is known, knowledge (of something) acquired by study; information;" also "assurance of knowledge, certitude, certainty," from Old French science "knowledge, learning, application; corpus of human knowledge" (12c.), from Latin scientia "kn
acquisition
late 14c., adquisicioun, "act of obtaining," from Old French acquisicion "purchase, acquirement" (13c., Modern French acquisition) or directly from Latin acquisitionem (nominative acquisitio), noun of action from past-participle stem of acquirere "get in addition, accumulate," fr
dexterity
1520s, "manual skill, skill in using the hands; physical adroitness in general," from French dexterité (16c.), from Latin...In 16c.-18c. also "mental adroitness or skill," often in a bad sense, "cleverness in taking advantage or avoiding responsibility...
artifice
1530s, "workmanship, the making of something by craft or skill," from French artifice "skill, cunning" (14c.), from Latin...
craft
," from Proto-Germanic *krab-/*kraf- (source also of Old Frisian kreft, Old High German chraft, German Kraft "strength, skill...Sense expanded in Old English to include "skill, dexterity; art, science, talent" (via a notion of "mental power"), which...led by late Old English to the meaning "trade, handicraft, employment requiring special skill or dexterity," also "something...
bog-trotter
over bogs, or lives among bogs; especially, a contemptuous appellation given to the Irish peasantry, probably from the skill...by leaping from tussock to tussock, where a stranger would find no footing, and from the frequent use they make of this skill...
art
early 13c., "skill as a result of learning or practice," from Old French art (10c.), from Latin artem (nominative ars) "work...of art; practical skill; a business, craft," from PIE *ar(ə)-ti- (source also of Sanskrit rtih "manner, mode;" Greek artizein...The sense of "skill in cunning and trickery" is attested by late 16c. (the sense in artful, artless)....The meaning "skill in creative arts" is recorded by 1610s; especially of painting, sculpture, etc., from 1660s....
nose
Middle English nose, from Old English nosu "the nose of the human head, the special organ of breathing and smelling," from Proto-Germanic *nuso- (source also of Old Norse nös, Old Frisian nose, Dutch neus, Old High German nasa, German Nase), from PIE root *nas- "nose." Used of be
ability
late 14c., "state or condition of being able; capacity to do or act," from Old French ableté "ability (to inherit)," from Latin habilitatem (nominative habilitas, in Medieval Latin abilitas) "aptitude, ability," noun of quality from habilis "easy to manage, handy" (see able). One
salesmanship
"character or qualities of a (good) salesman," 1853, from salesman + -ship. The modern system of salesmanship has become so much like persecution reduced to a science, that it is quite a luxury to be allowed the use of your own discretion, without being dragooned, by a shopkeepe

Share skill

Advertisement
Trending
Dictionary entries near skill
Advertisement