scrimshaw
scrim·shaw/ˈskɹɪmˌʃɔ/verb, noun
scrimshaw is spelled S-C-R-I-M-S-H-A-W: 9 letters and 2 syllables (scrim·shaw). It appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 99,289th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, scrimshaw means “To create (a small ornamental handicraft also called a scrimshaw) by carving or engraving on bone (originally whalebone or whales' teeth), ivory, or…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in scrimshaw?
| Letters | 9: S-C-R-I-M-S-H-A-W |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: scrim·shaw |
| In writing | about once in every 11 million words; the 99,289th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is scrimshaw?
Scrimshaw appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 99,289th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce scrimshaw?
- UK /ˈskɹɪmʃɔː/
- US /ˈskɹɪmˌʃɔ/
- US /-ˌʃɑ/
Scrimshaw has 2 syllables, split scrim·shaw in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-scrimshaw.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of scrimshaw
- scrimshaws present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- scrimshawing participle, present
- scrimshawed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does scrimshaw mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To create (a small ornamental handicraft also called a scrimshaw) by carving or engraving on bone (originally whalebone or whales' teeth), ivory, or other materials.
- 2
To carve or engrave (bone, ivory, or other materials) with ornamental designs.
- 3
To carve or engrave (ornamental designs) on bone, ivory, or other materials.
- 4
To make a handicraft of scrimshaw.
noun
- 1
A small ornamental handicraft created by carving or engraving bone (originally whalebone or whales' teeth), ivory, or other materials, formerly produced by sailors on whaling ships to pass the time on long voyages.
- 2
The manufacture of small ornamental handicrafts by carving or engraving bone, ivory, or other materials, formerly by sailors on whaling ships to pass the time on long voyages.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Scrimshaw in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Portuguese | entalhar, talhar , scrimshaw |
| French | scrimshaw |
| German | Scrimshaw |
| Spanish | scrimshaw |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does scrimshaw come from?
The origin of the verb is unknown, but it has possibly been influenced by the surname Scrimshaw. Various etymologies have been proposed (for example, that it derives from scrimshank (“(Britain, military slang) to be idle, to shirk duty”)), but the Oxford English Dictionary does not consider any of them convincing. Following the surname theory, Etymonline ultimately derives the word probably from Old French escremisseor (“fencing-master”). The noun is probably derived from the verb.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).