skive

[ skahyv ]

verb (used with object)

, skived, skiv·ing.

1. to split or cut, as leather, into layers or slices.
2. to shave, as hides.
3. to finish the turning of (a metal object) by feeding a tool against it tangentially.

skive

¹

/ skaɪv /

verb

1. tr to shave or remove the surface of (leather)

skive

²

/ skaɪv /

verb

1. informal.
   whenintr, often foll by off to evade (work or responsibility)

Word History and Origins

Origin of skive¹

1815–25; perhaps < Old Norse skīfa slice

Word History and Origins

Origin of skive¹

C19: from Old Norse skifa; related to English dialect shive a slice of bread

Origin of skive²

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

"It felt like you were skiving off work, you kept waiting for the phone to ring, constantly felt guilty," she told the BBC.

From BBC

Wind: “If you were trying to skive off work, I’m not sure how you’d convincingly sell gale force winds in your own office.”

From The Verge

A bookshelf backdrop is a visual reassurance – to your constituents, or your boss, or your tutor – that although you are at home you are working hard, not skiving.

From The Guardian

A wonderfully comforting movie that celebrates the world of idling, skiving, goofing off, and what the French flaneurs called “botanising on the asphalt”.

From The Guardian

It was a small skive - but every little helps.

From BBC

Related Words

• cut back
• cut down
• decrease
• lower
• mark down
• prune
• reduce
• scrape
• shave
• slash