skelly
A skeleton, especially a human oneA skeleton, especially a human one.
Meaning
2 senses(slang)A skeleton, especially a human one.
We went spelunking in some caves and got quite the scare when we found some skellies in there.
(Scotland, archaic)A squint.
Origin
Probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *skjelga ("to squint"; found only in theProbably of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *skjelga ("to squint"; found only in the reflexive skjelgask (“to come askew; squint the eyes”)), from Proto-Germanic *skilgijaną (“to squint”), from Proto-Germanic *skelhaz, *skelhwaz, *skelgaz (“slanted; sloping; squinting”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kel- (“to bend; crook”). Compare Danish skele (“to squint”), Swedish skela (“to squint”), Scots skellie, scalie, skellice (“to squint; look to the side”), German schielen (“to squint”).
From a clipping of skeleton + -y (diminutive suffix).
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