Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SKELFER, n. A thin lamina or flake of stone (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1970). Adj. skelfery, easily split into flakes, flaky, of stones (Id.). [′skɛlfər]
[E.M.E. skilfer, now obs., Du. schilfer, schelfer, a scale, fragment, cogn. with Skelf, n.1, and prob. also Skelf, n.2, q.v.]
