skulk

For some reason the work skulk is not one that I have heard in common usage around the circles in which I walk – or run. I associate this word with the British guys with whom I worked in my long ago Army days in Paris, France – and BBC programs such as “Keeping up appearances”. This word carries the meaning to lie or keep in hiding, as for some evil reason or to move stealthily or slink.

To the British, skulk carries the additional meaning of malinger – this would be to pretend illness, especially in order to shirk duty or work. Oddly enough, a pack or group of foxes is also called a skulk – and a skulk of foxes is not something one would want in their hen house.

Similar in meaning to skulk are the words lurk, sneak and prowl – and all suggest avoiding observation, often because of a sinister purpose. To lurk is to lie in wait for someone or to move stealthily. Sneak emphasizes the attempt to avoid being seen or discovered; it suggests a sinister intent or the desire to avoid punishment. Prowl usually implies seeking prey or loot; it suggests quiet and watchful roaming. It was then I noticed that while similar to the others, skulk leaned toward the suggestion of cowardice or fear.

A word that sounds like skulk is skunk and while most all know about this animal and the results if one gets too close to it, a thoroughly contemptible person is also called a skunk. And while we know that a skunk (person) is a skulker, the question came to me, does the skunk skulk? From all appearances it does not, and seems to have no fear – it just roams from place to place as it well pleases and if anything or anybody messes with it, it raises a big stink. Sounds a bit like some people I have heard about.

Now we know that to stink means to emit a strong offensive smell, but also a stink can define being offensive to propriety, such as an unpleasant fuss or scandal. We well know that the skunk (animal) can accomplish this first meaning with great aplomb and thoroughness, but we also know that the skunk (person) can bring the second meaning to fruition with the same amount of skillfulness.

Then the writer wandered off and found that a stull was a timber prop in a mine, one wedged between two walls of a stope. This caused a further search to find that a stope was basically a mineshaft. Stumbling on I found that one of the meanings of the word skim was to read, study, consider or treat in a superficial or cursory manner. This begged the question in my mind as to whether or not something can be done in a cursory manner without using bad words or thoughts.

To end today’s word wanderings I stop at the word stultify – to make, or cause to appear, foolish or ridiculous. This may be what my meandering writings do to my posts, but I do so much have fun with our language and fun is a good thing. Fun is close to joy and joy is what I receive from God because He is good and desires to give us good things and joy is a good thing. ec