skerry

[ sker-ee ]

noun

, Chiefly Scot.

, plural sker·ries.

1. a small, rocky island.
2. a coastline with a series of such islands offshore.

skerry

/ ˈskɛrɪ /

noun

1. a small rocky island
2. a reef

Word History and Origins

Origin of skerry¹

1605–15; Shetland dial. skerri a rock in the sea < Old Norse sker (genitive plural skerja ) rock or reef (in the sea). See scar ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of skerry¹

C17: Orkney dialect, from Old Norse sker scar ²

Example Sentences

Cathryn Skerry, then aged nine, recalled an announcement being made to her class at nearby Catwg Primary School.

From BBC

“I just told our team ’If you stay in this long enough, you end up seeing anything,’” Towson coach Pat Skerry said.

From Seattle Times

"They hit us with a little run in the second half where I thought we took a couple bad shots and that led to some transition," Towson coach Pat Skerry said.

From Fox News

Pat Skerry, in his 11th season as Towson’s coach, was an assistant at Pittsburgh during the 2010-11 season and helped the Panthers to a Big East regular season title and a 28-6 record.

From Seattle Times

You may see them as animals, but Skerry has come to think of them as beings with complex social impulses and structures that can be described as unique cultures.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• atoll
• beach
• coral reef
• shoal