¦ noun
1. the thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal.
the skin of a dead animal used as material for clothing or other items.
a container made from the skin of an animal, used for holding liquids.
2. the peel or outer layer of a fruit or vegetable.
the outermost layer of a structure such as an aircraft.
the thin outer covering of a sausage.
a thin layer forming on the surface of a hot liquid as it cools.
3. informal a drum or drum head.
4. [as modifier] informal relating to or denoting pornography: the skin trade.
5. Brit. informal a skinhead.
6. informal a cigarette paper.
¦ verb (skins, skinning, skinned)
1. remove the skin from.
graze (a part of one's body).
2. (of a wound) form new skin.
3. informal take money from or swindle.
4. Soccer, informal take the ball past (a defender) with ease.
5. (skin up) Brit. informal make a cannabis cigarette.
Phrases
be skin and bone be very thin.
by the skin of one's teeth by a very narrow margin.
get under someone's skin informal
1. annoy or irritate someone intensely.
2. fill someone's mind in a compelling and persistent way.
3. reach or display a deep understanding of someone.
give someone (some) skin US black slang shake or slap hands together as a gesture of friendship or solidarity.
have a thick (or thin) skin be insensitive (or oversensitive) to criticism or insults.
it's no skin off my nose informal I am not offended or adversely affected.
keep (or sleep in) a whole skin archaic escape being wounded or injured.
skin and blister Brit. rhyming slang a person's sister.
under the skin in reality, as opposed to superficial appearances.
Derivatives
skinless adjective
skinned adjective
skinner noun
Origin
OE scinn, from ON skinn.