skimmer

UK: /ˈskɪmə/ US: (skim′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

skim•mer  (skim′ər), n. 

1. a person or thing that skims.
2. a shallow utensil, usually perforated, used in skimming liquids.
3. Birds any of several gull-like birds of the family Rynchopidae, that skim the water with the elongated lower mandible immersed while in search of food.
4. Clothing a stiff, wide-brimmed hat with a shallow flat crown, usually made of straw.
5. Clothing a woman's A-line dress with side darts that shape it slightly to the body.

• Middle French (e)scumoir ladle for skimming; see scum
• 1350–1400; skim + -er¹; replacing Middle English skemour, skymour, variant of schumour

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

skimmer / ˈskɪmə/ noun

1. a person or thing that skims
2. any of several mainly tropical coastal aquatic birds of the genus Rhynchops, having long narrow wings and a bill with an elongated lower mandible for skimming food from the surface of the water: family Rynchopidae, order Charadriiformes
3. a flat perforated spoon used for skimming fat from liquids