Skim \Skim\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.]

[Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. [root]158. See Scum.]

1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.

2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.

3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of.

Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean. --Hazlitt.

4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Skim \Skim\, v. i.

1. To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface.

Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. --Pope.

2. To hasten along with superficial attention.

They skim over a science in a very superficial survey. --I. Watts.

3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Skim \Skim\, a. Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed.

Skim coat, the final or finishing coat of plaster.

Skim colter, a colter for paring off the surface of land.

Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been taken.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)