skerik?

[Max Thomsen]

The author of the following is an Aussie.

>While that is an excellent attitude, just remember the customers you
>would like to have: in this case, commercial shrinkwrap vendors, of whom
>you have about 0% of the market (correct me if it's a skerik higher).

Now, I can guess what "skerik" means (a very small amount), but is it
just a made-up word or does it denote some real-world thingamajig? I
couldn't find it in my two dictionaries.

--
Max Thomsen

[Travis]

>
> Now, I can guess what "skerik" means (a very small amount), but is it
> just a made-up word or does it denote some real-world thingamajig? I
> couldn't find it in my two dictionaries.
>

It's in "Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English
Language", but it's spelled, "skerrick" - "Australian - a small piece or
quantity; . . "

[Robert M. Wilson]

It probably comes from the older form "scuddick" meaning a small amount or
object such as a coin. In the mid 19th C., a "scurrick" was a halfpenny.
Related may be the older Scots "skerry", a small island or reef.

The word seems to have survived in general use only in Australia.

[Charles A. Lee]

Dear Max,

On Thu, 01 Jan 1998 22:21:34 GMT, in a.u.e. you wrote:

>
>The author of the following is an Aussie.
>
>>While that is an excellent attitude, just remember the customers you
>>would like to have: in this case, commercial shrinkwrap vendors, of whom
>>you have about 0% of the market (correct me if it's a skerik higher).
>

>Now, I can guess what "skerik" means (a very small amount), but is it
>just a made-up word or does it denote some real-world thingamajig? I
>couldn't find it in my two dictionaries.

From RHUD2, it's spelled: skerrick "Australian. a small piece or
quantity; a bit: [1930-35 orig. uncertain]".

Charles A. Lee
http://www.concentric.net/~azcal

================================
= "Nobody goes there anymore; =
= it's too crowded. =
= - Yogi Berra =
================================

[Mervyn Doobov]

Max Thomsen wrote:
>
> The author of the following is an Aussie.
>
> >While that is an excellent attitude, just remember the customers you
> >would like to have: in this case, commercial shrinkwrap vendors, of whom
> >you have about 0% of the market (correct me if it's a skerik higher).
>
> Now, I can guess what "skerik" means (a very small amount), but is it
> just a made-up word or does it denote some real-world thingamajig? I
> couldn't find it in my two dictionaries.

You presumably do not have a Macquarie Dictionary, which defines the
word as meaning a "very small quantity" or a "scrap", as in: "not a
skerrick left". You wil note that it is normally spelt with a double
r. The dictionary says it comes from a "British dialect, origin
obscure".

Mervyn Doobov

[Geoff Butler]

Mervyn Doobov <mervyn...@dsto.defence.gov.au> writes:
>
>You presumably do not have a Macquarie Dictionary, which defines the
>word as meaning a "very small quantity" or a "scrap", as in: "not a
>skerrick left". You wil note that it is normally spelt with a double
>r. The dictionary says it comes from a "British dialect, origin
>obscure".

It's in Chambers: "(dialect) n. (chiefly with negative) a minute
quantity, a scrap. [Etymology uncertain]". I've never heard it used in
Brit, and didn't know the word at all until a few moments ago

-ler

[Kris Heidenstrom]

Travis wrote:

>> Now, I can guess what "skerik" means (a very small amount), but
>> is it just a made-up word or does it denote some real-world
>> thingamajig? I couldn't find it in my two dictionaries.
>

> It's in "Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the
> English Language", but it's spelled, "skerrick" - "Australian -

> a small piece or quantity; . . "

From Chambers: "skerrick (dialect; esp. US, Australia and New
Zealand) noun (chiefly with negative) a minute quantity, a scrap".

I've mostly heard it used in plural to mean the 'last little
bit' e.g. the scrapings off a dinner plate or the side of a
bowl or jar, etc.

Kris
--
Kris Heidenstrom Electronic designer, programmer, bass player
khei...@clear.net.nz http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/kheidens/