skewer
skewer Lexical Profile
skewer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A long, thin pin of wood or metal used to pierce and hold pieces of food together during cooking.
"She threaded marinated chicken and vegetables onto a wooden skewer before placing it on the grill."
A tactic in chess where an attacking piece threatens a highly valuable piece, forcing it to move and exposing a less valuable piece behind it to capture.
"The grandmaster executed a brilliant bishop skewer to win his opponent's rook."
• verb
To pierce or fasten with a long, thin pin or rod.
"The chef carefully skewered the shrimp to ensure they would cook evenly over the open flame."
To sharply criticize or ridicule someone or something.
"The satirical play skewered the hypocrisy of modern political campaigns with biting wit."
• Rhymes for skewer
Word Origin & Etymology
From late 14th-century Middle English 'skiver' or 'skewer', likely of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse 'skífa' (a slice of wood).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.