skellington

English

Noun

skellington (plural skellingtons)

1. (nonstandard, childish, dialect or humorous, often dated) 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, Railway signal: or, Lights along the line, London:

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

   • 1980 August 16, Andrea Loewenstein, “Random Lust”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 5, page 19:

     Random Remorse, her constant companion ever since it had replaced her old constant companion, Random Lust, was elbowing her out of bed. "You could have at least said it was a nice dream," this dreary skellington nudged at her with its dry bones. "You could at least have kissed her goodbye."

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

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