skellington

skellington

English

Noun

skellington (plural skellingtons)

1. (nonstandard, childish, dialectal or humorous) A skeleton.
   • 1882, John Devenish Hoppus, Riverside papers

     But it were talked on as 'ow 'ee found old Nobes and 'is missus' skellingtons a-sittin' bolt upright in them two chairs, but I doan't know so much 'bout that...

   • 1902, Railway Mission, London, Railway signal: or, Lights along the line

     Mary led the way, muttering as she went, "I thought this was a decent house, but lawks! there's a skellington in every cupboard."

   • 2004, Faith Richardson, Fay Lapka Richardson, Dark Is a Color

     "They were pictures of skellingtons." "Skeletons," I corrected her without thinking.