Skein (?), n. [OE. skeyne, OF.
escaigne, F. écagne, probably of Celtic origin;
cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or
perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.]
1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put
up together, after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a
sort of knot.
☞ A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of
the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.
2. (Wagon Making) A metallic
strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle.
Knight.
Skein, n. (Zoöl.) A
flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]