skeleton

English

/ˈskɛlətən/

noun
Definitions
  • (anatomy) The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.
  • An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton.
  • (figuratively) A very thin person.
  • (figuratively) The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure.
  • (architecture) A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.
  • (computing) A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub.
  • (geometry) The vertices and edges of a polyhedron, taken collectively.
  • (printing) A very thin form of light-faced type.
  • attributive Reduced to a minimum or bare essentials.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sceleton derived from Ancient Greek σκελετός (dried up, dried body, parched, mummy, withered) derived from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- (parch, wither, dry out).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*(s)kelh₁-

Gloss

parch, wither, dry out

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms