skein n Cp OED ~ sb1 2 b 'flight of wild fowl' (1851-) for sense 1. See also STRING.
1 A long line of migrating seals.
1922 Sat Ev Post 195, 2 Sep, p. 10 'Dere'm de fat, sir!'. . . 'Only a little skein of swiles, but dat'm a beginnin'!' 1924 ENGLAND 239-40 The Ranger seemed to have discovered the huge herd afar, about the same time we did. . . 'Scun 'er up to 'em, Jacob!' the Old Man shouted from the bridge. 'How them bear?' 'Two p'ints on de starburd bow!' 'Good skein?' 'Big jag o' fat, a nice bit off, sir.'
2 A narrow strip of floating ice (1925 Dial Notes v, 342).
