skewer

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a long, thin pin of metal or wood used to hold pieces of food during cooking

   She threaded peppers and mushrooms onto a wooden skewer.

2. 2
   verb

   to pierce or impale something with a skewer or another long, sharp object

   The sharpened cane could skewer anyone who fell onto it.

3. 3
   noun

   food, especially pieces of meat or vegetables, cooked and served on a skewer

   He ordered a lamb skewer with grilled onions and rice.

4. 4
   verb

   figurative: to criticize, expose, or mock someone or something severely

   The columnist used dry satire to skewer the minister's excuses.

Simplified etymology

Skewer dates from the late 17th century and may be related to the Germanic root behind shiver in the senses “break” and “small piece,” whose basic idea was “slit” or “splinter.”

From Middle English skeuier or skuer, probably a variant of skever or skiver and likely of North Germanic origin. It has been compared with Icelandic skífa and Scandinavian words meaning "slice" or "slab." The figurative verb extends the physical image of piercing a target.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary