subs. (old).—1. A footman; a GRASSHOPPER (q.v.). Whence spec. 2 (Trinity College, Dublin), a college servant: cf. GYP and SCOUT. Also SKIPKENNEL (B. E. and GROSE).
1672. A. BROME, Covent Garden Drollery, ‘A Lampoon on the Greenwich Strowlers,’ p. 23.
| The Prizes they took, were a Londoners groat, | |
| A Gentlemans size, but his SKIPKENNELS pot. |
1703. WARD, The London Spy, VII. 151. As a Courtier’s Footman when he meets his Brother SKIP in the middle of Covent-Garden.
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, ii. 120. Pluto’s SKIP-KENNELS are not so insolent as yours are.
1721. AMHURST, Terræ-filius, i. Every scullion and SKIPKENNEL had liberty to tell his master his own.
1729. SWIFT, Directions to Servants, ‘Footman.’ My Lady’s Waiting-woman; who are sometimes apt to call you SKIP-KENNEL.
1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, xi. Conducting himself in all respects … as his … own man, SKIP, valet, or saucepan.
1842. Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine, Oct., ‘Reminiscences of College Life.’ The SKIP, or according to the Oxford etymology, ‘the man vulture,’ is not fit for his calling who cannot time his business so as to be present simultaneously at several places.
1845. THACKERAY, Pendennis, xx. His wounded tutor, his many duns, the SKIP and bedmaker who waited on him.
Verb. (common).—1. To decamp: see BUNK. Also TO SKIP OUT (or OFF), and TO DO A SKIP.
1872. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ix. The Indian had SKIPPED around so’s to spile everything.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 19 Dec. I knew he was getting ready to SKIP OUT OF town the moment he saw the jig was up.
1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 29 June. This base myrmidon of the law endeavoured to execute his task just as Andrew was about to lead a second bouncing bride to the altar. But Andrew espied him and quietly SKIPPED.
1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads, ‘Gunga Din.’
| With ’is mussick on ’is back, | |
| ’E would SKIP with our attack. |
1895. R. POCOCK, The Rules of the Game, II. x. If I’d known of this warrant, I’d have gone on my knees and implored him for your dear sake not to SKIP the train.
2. (common).—To die: see HOP THE TWIG.
1900. R. H. SAVAGE, Brought to Bay, xv. The dark pool of congealing blood … told its awful story!… Ibid. SKIPPED OUT! … game to the last, and, never flinched!
3. (common).—To read hastily, picking out passages here and there. Hence 4 (university), to shirk work. Also SKIPPER = a hasty reader; and SKIPPABLE = easily and quickly read.
1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 28 Feb. Two classes of readers, however, may get not a little that is interesting out of this book—the pachydermatous plodder and the judicious SKIPPER.
