Skim , n. Scum; refuse.
Bryskett.
Skim , a. Contraction of Skimming and
Skimmed.
Skim coat, the final or finishing coat of plaster. -- Skim colter, a colter for
paring off the surface of land. -- Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has
been taken.
Skim , v. i. 1. To
pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface.
Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain,
Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main.
Pope. 2. To hasten along with superficial attention.
They skim over a science in a
very superficial survey.
I.
Watts. 3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.
Skim (sk&ibreve;m), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed (sk&ibreve;md); p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.]
[Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. √158. See Scum.]
1. To clear
(a liquid) from scum or
substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil
that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.
2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.
3. To pass near
the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of.
Homer
describes Mercury as flinging
himself from the top of
Olympus, and skimming
the surface of the ocean.
Hazlitt.
4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull
the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a
book or a newspaper.
Hear it pronounced