Skewered

/skjuːərd/ verb

Definition

pierced or threaded on a long pointed stick, or publicly criticized harshly.

Etymology

From Middle Dutch 'schuere,' possibly related to Old Norse 'skúra.' The culinary sense emerged in the 16th century, with the metaphorical 'to criticize' sense developing in the 20th century.

Kelly Says

Medieval cooks borrowed this Dutch word right around the time skewers became common kitchen tools—showing how cooking methods and language travel together across trade routes.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.