skill English · revision 5203

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1175|origins=non skil}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /skɪl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|skil]], [[bor|non|skil|t=distinction, discernment, knowledge]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) related to the verb [[m|non|skilja|t=to separate, distinguish]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Proto-Germanic *skaljo- “to divide, separate”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*skel-|t=to cut]], the source also of Lithuanian skelti “to split”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Middle Dutch geschil “difference” is a cognate.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) NODE traces it to late Old English scele “knowledge”.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ That which is reasonable or right, distinction: about 1175 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline has “knowledge, divine wisdom” from the early 12th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Reason as a faculty of the mind is from before 1200, and a cause or reason from before 1300; all these senses are now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Practical knowledge and ability, cleverness, is recorded by the early 13th century, before 1225 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective ''skilful'' is from before 1325,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''skilled'' from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) The verb, from Old Norse skila and skilja, is now archaic: it meant to separate in Middle English, and later “to matter, make a difference”.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – what is reasonable or right.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – reason, judgement.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1225 – practical ability.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * a. 1325 – ''skilful''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The ability to do something well, gained through training or practice; [[expertise]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A particular ability or technique, especially one that needs training: ''computer skills''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Understanding or reason.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[deskill]]

+ * [[outskill]]

+ * [[skill-less]]

+ * [[skilful]]

+ * [[skillful]]

+ * [[skilled]]

+ * [[game of skill]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shell]]

+ * [[scale]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Lakeland and Devon dialect another verb skill meant to shell or husk.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}