skull

Etymology 1

From Middle English sculle, scolle (also schulle, scholle), probably from a dialectal form of Old Norse skalli (“bald head, skull”), itself probably related to Old English sċealu (“husk”). Compare Scots scull, Danish skal (“skull”) and skalle (“bald head, skull”), Norwegian skalle, Swedish skalle and especially dialectal Swedish skulle. Alternatively, perhaps from Old Norse skoltr, skolptr (“muzzle, snout”), akin to Icelandic skoltur (“jaw”), dialectal Swedish skult, skulle (“dome, crown of the head, skull”), Middle Dutch scolle, scholle, Middle Low German scholle, schulle (“clod, sod”), and Scots skult, skolt. Compare also Old High German sciula, skiula (“skull”).

noun

1. (anatomy) The main bones of the head considered as a unit; including the cranium, facial bones, and mandible.
2. These bones as a symbol for death; death's-head.
3. (figurative) The mind or brain.
   My thoughts are flying around in my skull like fireflies in a jar, but all of a sudden I'm unbearably tired and can't stay awake. 2006, Bart Yates, The Brothers Bishop
4. A crust formed on the ladle, etc. by the partial cooling of molten metal.
5. The crown of the headpiece in armour.
6. (Scotland) A shallow bow-handled basket.

verb

1. To hit in the head with a fist, a weapon, or a thrown object.
2. (transitive, golf) To strike the top of (the ball).
   Monte swung so hard at the next ball that he skulled it straight right, into the pond: 8 in, 9 out. 2002, Robert C. Knox, Golf Balls Are Female, page 148
3. To drink everything that remains in a glass by upending it.
   She nearly skulled the next drink and, despite feeling a little woozy, she felt a lot better. 2016, Karen Nolan, The Y Necklace
   That was at Jessica Eyre's sixteenth, and while nothing terrible had happened (I had skulled four Lemon Ruskis and fallen asleep in the garden), it was agreed by all that I had embarrassed myself. 2021, Mary Fifield, Kristin Thiel, Fire & Water
   He lifted his pint to skull what was left, but suddenly the whole thing— the smell of smoke and spilled beer, the flat Glasgow voices, the chiming of the cash register, the clatter of glasses— was somehow too much. 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 337
   He skulled his drink, set the glass down, then grabbed the bottle and ambled over to the other couch. 2022, Lena Moore ·, Coveted

Etymology 2

See school (“a multitude”).

noun

1. Obsolete form of school (“a multitude”).
   A knavish skull of boys and girls did pelt at him. 1586, William Warner, Albion’s England
   These fishs, togither with the old Tunies and the young, called Pelamides, enter in great flotes and skulls, into the sea Pontus, for the sweet food that they there find: and every companie of them hath their fever all leaders and captaines; and before them all, the Maquerels lead the way; which, while they be in the water, have a colour of brimstone; but without, like they be to the rest. 1601, Philemon Holland (translator), Pliny the Elder (author), The Historie of the World. Commonly called, The Natvrall Historie of C. Plinivs Secvndvs., book IX, chapter xv: “Of the names and natures of many fishes.”