- skim (v.)
- early 15c. (skimmer, the utensil, is attested from late 14c.), "to clear (a liquid) from matter floating on the surface," from Old French escumer "remove scum," from escume (French écume) "scum," from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German scum "scum," German Schaum; see scum). Hence, skim milk (1590s), from which the cream has been skimmed. Meaning "to glance over carelessly" (in reference to printed matter) first recorded 1799; that of "to move over lightly and rapidly" is from 1690s.