# Origin of "Skive"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 14, 2000, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489 "2000-12-14T04:20:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/1 "2000-12-14T04:20:23Z")
I learned a new word !!! To “skive” something. Apparently it means to cut on a bevelled edge? I don’t have any sourcebooks for etymology. Anyone know the origin and older useages of it?? It’s an awesome word, but how oh how to work it into casual conversation?
Cartooniverse
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### Author:  [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/2 "2000-12-14T04:26:20Z")
Never heard that definition, but ‘skive’ is also a term for avoiding work. That should be easier to work into conversation. I wonder if they’re related?
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### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/3 "2000-12-14T04:36:34Z")
Three words with three etymologies
1. a wheel for grinding or polishing gemstones, from Dutch schiff
2. To cut into strips, from Old Norse skifa (which is itself related to the above)
3. to shirk one’s duties, possibly from French esquiver
All in all, I’d rather swive than skive.
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### Author:  [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/4 "2000-12-14T12:47:05Z")
[q]but how oh how to work it into casual conversation? [/q]
I don’t know about your skivies, but I think my skivies have hiked up way too far!
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### Author:  [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/5 "2000-12-14T15:15:49Z")
The Danish word “skive” has a couple of meanings:
- a slice
- to slice
- in some connections, a disc. Disc brakes are “skivebremser”, a grinding wheel might be called a “slibeskive”.
- and Skive is a town in Jutland.
If I were to venture a guess, the Dutch and Old Norse might be related to each other - a disc is nothing but a slice of a cylinder, after all. Or have I been sniffing glue again ?
S. Norman
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### Author:  [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/6 "2000-12-14T15:20:08Z")
D’OH! Wow, the connection I so boldly postulate has been described by **bibliophage**.
Right, I’ll just slink away and stop bothering people…
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-skive/45489/7 "2000-12-14T18:20:32Z")
I wonder if the word ‘skivvie’ is related in anny way.
A skivvie is a person who generally does all the menial tasks for very low wages and a high work rate, its just about one small step better than being a slave.
Good examples of skivvie type work, floor scrubbing by hand, endless cook pan scrubbing.