Someone who removes skin from animals, typically as part of leather production or butchering. Also refers to B.F. Skinner, the influential behavioral psychologist.
From 'skin' plus the agent suffix '-er,' dating to Middle English. From Old Norse 'skinn' meaning 'hide' or 'pelt.' The occupational meaning predates its association with the psychologist by centuries.
B.F. Skinner's surname was perfectly suited to his profession - he literally 'skinned' away layers of behavior to understand what lay beneath. His 'Skinner box' experiments revealed how rewards and punishments shape animal and human behavior.
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