What does skimmer mean?
A skimmer is something that collects material from the surface of a liquid or moves lightly across a surface. In practical use, the word most often refers to a tool or device that removes floating oil, foam, scum, or debris, or to a shallow-drafting boat designed to skim over water. It can also denote a person who reads or examines something quickly, skimming through a document or gathering information without lingering over every detail. An older and chiefly British use refers to a lightweight, broad-brimmed hat, often made from straw. The word is useful because it names not merely the act of skimming but the person, tool, or vessel that performs it. Its meanings range from ordinary household and industrial equipment to specialized transport and more figurative descriptions of rapid, selective attention.
A person, device, or boat that skims or removes material from a surface.
"The harbor workers used a skimmer to recover the spilled oil."
The precise meaning depends on context: the word may denote a filtering tool, a surface-cleaning device, a fast-moving boat, or a person who scans material quickly.
A lightweight hat with a broad brim, especially a straw hat.
"She wore a wide-brimmed skimmer to protect herself from the sun."
This sense is old-fashioned and used chiefly in British English.
To skim or move lightly over a surface.
"The craft skimmed across the water at high speed."
This is less common than the noun and is mainly used when referring to a vessel or device.
The plural is used for multiple people, devices, boats, or hats of this kind.
"Several skimmers were stationed around the harbor."
A skimmer takes only what floats on the surface—whether that is oil, foam, debris, or even a daringly light hat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of skimmer
The word was formed in English by adding the suffix -er to skim, a word for taking off a thin layer from a surface or moving lightly over water. The suffix identifies an agent or instrument that performs the action. The resulting noun consequently acquired several related meanings, including a device that removes floating material, a person who skims, and a light boat that skims across water.
How skimmer is actually used
The sense for a broad-brimmed hat is somewhat old-fashioned and is used chiefly in British English. Other senses are technical or context-specific, especially the boat and surface-cleaning-device meanings.
Easily confused with skimmer
A skimmer is a person or device that performs the action of skimming, while skim is the action itself.