skew

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having an oblique or slanting direction or position

   the picture was skew

2. 2
   verb

   turn or place at an angle

   the lines on the sheet of paper are skewed

3. 3
   verb

   To form or shape in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.

   When making this joint it is important to see that the eccentric or crank is at dead-centre; if it is at the end or limit of its stroke, the rubber is skewed the full length of same; if it is at the centre, the skewing, which is the cause of wear, is halved.

4. 4
   verb

   To bias or distort in a particular direction.

   A disproportionate number of female subjects in the study group skewed the results.

5. 5
   verb

   To move obliquely; to move sideways, to sidle; to lie obliquely.

   Child, (ſays the Mother) You muſt Uſe your ſelf to Walk Streight, without Skewing, and Shailing ſo Every Step you ſet: Pray Mother (ſays the Young Crab) do but ſet the Example your ſelf, and I'll follow ye.

6. 6
   verb

   To jump back or sideways in fear or surprise; to shy, as a horse.

   The horses capered. One tore its reins from her hands, burning a trail across her palms. She clung to the other as it pulled against the restraint. Frantically, Brienne moved to its side, pitching the reins over the beast's head, and jammed her foot into the stirrup. The horse skewed, drawing her along on one foot.

7. 7
   verb

   To look at obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously.

   [C]an this durt draw us / To ſuch a ſtupid tameneſſe, that our ſervice / Neglected, and look'd lamely on, and skewd at / With a few honourable words, and this, is righted?

8. 8
   adj

   Neither parallel nor perpendicular to a certain line; askew.

   a skew arch

Etymology

From Middle English skeu, skew (“stone with a sloping surface forming the slope of a gable, offset of a buttress, etc.”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman eschu, escuwe, eskeu, or Old Northern French eschieu, eskieu, eskiu, from Old French escu, escut, eschif (“a shield”) (modern French écu), from Latin scūtum (“a shield”), from Proto-Indo-European *skewH- (“to cover, protect”) or *skey- (“to cut, split”).