Meaning & use
scrimshaw
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablespecialist
The art of carving or engraving designs on whale teeth, bone, or shells, especially as done by sailors.
Grammar: Uncountable: scrimshaw is an art form; no plural.
Patterns
- the art of scrimshaw
- a piece of scrimshaw
The museum has a fine collection of scrimshaw from the 19th century.
He learned the art of scrimshaw while working on a whaling ship.
nouncountablespecialist
A carved or engraved object made in this style, usually from whale bone or ivory.
Grammar: Countable: a scrimshaw, two scrimshaws.
Patterns
- a scrimshaw
- collect scrimshaw
She bought a small scrimshaw at the antique shop.
The scrimshaw was decorated with a picture of a sailing ship.
Word forms
| plural | scrimshaws |
|---|
Common combinations
- a piece of scrimshaw
- He gave her a piece of scrimshaw as a souvenir.
- scrimshaw art
- Scrimshaw art often shows ships, whales, and sea creatures.
- collect scrimshaw
- Some tourists collect scrimshaw when they visit Alaska.
Synonyms and how they differ
- whalebone carving
- A more general term for carving on whalebone, not limited to the traditional sailor's art.
Word family
- scrimshander noun
- A person who makes scrimshaw.
Commonly confused: scrimshaw or scrimmage?
scrimshaw vs scrimmage
A 'scrimmage' is a practice game or a rough struggle, especially in sports; it has nothing to do with carving.
Practice
What is scrimshaw?
Choose one answer.
Scrimshaw is the art or object of carving on whale bone or teeth, traditionally by sailors. The other options are unrelated meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scrimshaw”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.