Skimmer

In science fiction stories, a skimmer is a hovercraft-like vehicle, usually supported by anti-grav. There is wide variation in skimmer design, what with being immaginary and all. They often look like cars without wheels, but in Star Wars they look like little space ships.

In real life, a skimmer is a light, usually straw hat with a stiff wide brim and a flat shallow crown. (See: panama hat, Boater).

Skim"mer (?), n.

1.

One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.

2. Zool.

Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus Rhynchops, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species (R. nigra) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also scissorbill, and shearbill.

3. Zool.

Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.

© Webster 1913.