What does "skull" mean?

1. (head bones) the bones that form the head and protect the brain. 2. (symbol of death) a picture or object of a head bone used to represent death or danger. 3. (the mind) your head or your mind, often used when someone is not listening. 4. (to drink quickly) to drink the entire contents of a glass in one go.

How do you use "skull"?

Often used with the adjective 'thick' to describe someone who is slow to understand.

skull

n. · v.

US //ˈskəɫ// UK //skˈʌl// skull

1 head bones (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

the bones that form the head and protect the brain.

the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face.

Example

The doctor showed him an X-ray of his skull to check for any cracks.

Example

Forensic anthropologists examined the skull to determine the age and sex of the individual based on cranial sutures and facial structure.
- cranium
2 symbol of death (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a picture or object of a head bone used to represent death or danger.

the cranium used as a memento mori or a symbol of toxicity and danger.

Example

The bottle of poison had a skull and crossbones on the label.

Example

The pirate flag, featuring a white skull against a black field, served as a psychological tool to intimidate merchant vessels into surrendering.
- death's head

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3 the mind (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal

your head or your mind, often used when someone is not listening.

the mind or brain, frequently used in idiomatic expressions regarding comprehension or stubbornness.

Example

I've told him a dozen times, but I can't get it through his thick skull.

Example

It took several hours of explanation before the basic principles of the new software finally penetrated his skull.

Usage

Often used with the adjective 'thick' to describe someone who is slow to understand.
4 to drink quickly (v.)
C2 Proficiency Informal Slang

to drink the entire contents of a glass in one go.

to consume the entirety of a beverage by upending the vessel; synonymous with 'chug'.

Example

The crowd cheered as he managed to skull the whole pint of juice.

Example

In a display of bravado at the university party, he proceeded to skull his drink before joining his friends on the dance floor.

Teacher's tip

This usage is particularly common in Australian and New Zealand English, though understood elsewhere.
- sip

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”), to Proto-Norse ᛋᚲᚨᛚᛟ (skalo), from Proto-Germanic *skallô; compare Finnish skallo. Compare Scots scull, Danish skal (“skull”) and skalle (“bald head, skull”), Norwegian skalle, Swedish skalle and especially dialectal Swedish skulle. Related to Old Norse skoltr (“brow”), skolptr (“muzzle, snout”), akin to Icelandic skoltur (“jaw”), dialectal Swedish skult, skulle (“dome, crown of the head, skull”), Norwegian Nynorsk skult, skolt (“cranium, head (of a hammer); crag; hub”), Middle Dutch scolle, scholle, Middle Low German scholle, schulle (“clod, sod”), and Scots skult, skolt. Compare also Old High German sciula, skiula (“skull”). Possibly related to Latin celsus (“lofty, high, tall”), collis (“hill”). Also related to Old Norse skǫllóttr, Icelandic sköllóttur, Old Swedish skallotter, Swedish skallig, Danish skaldet, Norwegian skallet (“bald”).

Etymology 2

See school (“a multitude”).