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Definition of schuylkill

schuylkill

/ˈskuːl.kɪl/
Schuyl · kill
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schuylkill Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A river in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States, that flows approximately 135 miles southeast to join the Delaware River at Philadelphia.

2

American A local shorthand name for the Schuylkill Expressway (part of Interstate 76), a major freeway serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Example

"We were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Schuylkill for over an hour."

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently mispronounced by non-locals, 'Schuylkill' is pronounced 'SKOOL-kill' and is almost exclusively used as a proper noun regarding Pennsylvania geography.

• Nearby Words

schultz
schulz
schumann
schuylkill
sciatic
sciatica
science

Word Origin & Etymology

Named by 17th-century Dutch explorers from 'schuilen' (to hide) and 'kil' (creek or stream), referring to its hidden confluence with the Delaware River behind League Island.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Schuylkill. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/schuylkill
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