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Definition of skully

skully

/ˈskʌl.i/
skul · ly
Plural:skullies
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skully Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A close-fitting, brimless knitted cap or skullcap.

Example

"He pulled a warm black skully over his ears before stepping out into the freezing wind."

2

American A traditional urban children's street game, especially popular in New York City, in which players flick weighted bottle caps or small discs across a chalk-drawn board on the pavement.

Example

"During the summer, neighborhood kids gathered on the sidewalk to play skully with wax-filled bottle caps."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for skully

• Rhymes for skully

• Nearby Words

skull
skullcap
skullduggery
skully
skunk
skunk botia
skunk cabbage

Word Origin & Etymology

The street game sense originated in New York City in the early-to-mid 20th century, likely derived from the 'skull' zone drawn at the center of the board; the headwear sense is a transparent diminutive of 'skullcap'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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