skink

¹

[ skingk ]

noun

1. any of numerous lizards of the family Scincidae, common in many regions of the Old and New World, typically having flat, smooth, overlapping scales and comprising terrestrial, arboreal, and fossorial species.

skink

²

[ skingk ]

verb (used with object)

, Scot. Dialect.

1. to serve (a beverage).

skink

/ skɪŋk /

noun

1. any lizard of the family Scincidae, commonest in tropical Africa and Asia, having reduced limbs and an elongated body covered with smooth scales scincoid

Word History and Origins

Origin of skink¹

1580–90; < Latin scincus < Greek skínkos lizard

Origin of skink²

1350–1400; Middle English skynken < Middle Dutch schenken, schinken; cognate with Old English scencan, German schenken

Word History and Origins

Origin of skink¹

C16: from Latin scincus a lizard, from Greek skinkos

Example Sentences

"These skulls had both been previously described as part of a European genus of skink ancestors, but we wanted to investigate that further with 3D data," Meyer said.

From Science Daily

A three-year-long imaging study only recently revealed the devotion of Cunningham skink mothers.

From New York Times

On Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, the invasive wolf snake has been driving blue-tailed skinks and other reptiles toward extinction, for example.

From Science Magazine

Along nearby Hog Bayou, blue buntings and scarlet tanagers dart through magnolia branches and skinks skitter up trees.

From Seattle Times

And on the forest floor, the lizards, skinks and salamanders that buried themselves deep in decayed organic matter as fire rolled by above are clambering back into the creeks.

From Seattle Times