Dictionary

skellington en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈskɛlɪŋtən/

Meanings

1. (childish, dated, dialectal, humorous, nonstandard, often) A skeleton.
   • Random Remorse, her constant companion ever since it had replaced her old constant companion, Random Lust, was elbowing her out of bed. "You could have at least said it was a nice dream," this dreary skellington nudged at her with its dry bones. "You could at least have kissed her goodbye." 1980 August 16, Andrea Loewenstein, “Random Lust”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 5, page 19:
   • "They were pictures of skellingtons." "Skeletons," I corrected her without thinking. 2004, Faith Richardson, Fay Lapka Richardson, Dark Is a Color:
   • But it were talked on as 'ow 'ee found old Nobes and 'is missus' skellingtons a-sittin' bolt upright in them two chairs, but I doan't know so much 'bout that... 1882, John Devenish Hoppus, Riverside papers:
   • Mary led the way, muttering as she went, "I thought this was a decent house, but lawks! there's a skellington in every cupboard." 1902, Railway Mission, Railway signal: or, Lights along the line, London:

Forms