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scrim·shaw

(skrĭmshô′)

n. pl. scrimshaw or scrim·shaws

1. The art of carving or incising intricate designs on the teeth, bones, or baleen of whales.

2. A decorative article made by this art.

v. scrim·shawed, scrim·shaw·ing, scrim·shaws

tr. & intr.v.

To decorate (whale ivory or whalebone) with intricate carvings or designs or make such designs.

[Probably from SCRIMSHANDER.]

(click for a larger image)

scrimshaw

scrimshaw on a sperm whale tooth

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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