Skein (?), n. [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. 'ecagne, probably of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.]
1.
A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a sort of knot.
⇒ A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.
2. Wagon Making
A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle.
Knight.
© Webster 1913.
Skein, n. Zool.
A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like).
[Prov. Eng.]
© Webster 1913.