Hypertext Webster Gateway: "skein"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Skein \Skein\, n. [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. ['e]cagne,
probably of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh
thread, small twine; or perhaps the English word is
immediately from Celtic.]
1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together,
after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a sort
of knot.
Note: A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the
thread round a fifty-four inch reel.
2. (Wagon Making) A metallic strengthening band or thimble on
the wooden arm of an axle. --Knight.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Skein \Skein\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
skein
n : coils of worsted yarn
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