Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - skate

 I. noun  (plural ~s; also ~)  Etymology: Middle English scate, from Old Norse skata  Date: 14th century any of a family (Rajidae, especially genus Raja) of rays with the pectoral fins greatly developed giving the fish a flat diamond shape  II. noun  Etymology: modification of Dutch schaats, from Middle Dutch schaetse stilt, from Old French dialect (Flanders, Hainaut) *escace, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English sceacan to shake — more at shake  Date: 1684  1.  a. a metal frame that can be fitted to the sole of a shoe and to which is attached a runner or a set of wheels for gliding over ice or a surface other than ice  b. roller ~; especially in-line ~  c. ice ~  2. a period of skating  III. verb  (~d; skating)  Date: 1696  intransitive verb  1. to glide along on ~s propelled by the alternate action of the legs  2. to slip or glide as if on ~s  3. to proceed in a superficial or blithe manner  transitive verb to go along or through by skating  IV. noun  Etymology: probably alteration of English dialect skite an offensive person  Date: 1894  1. a thin awkward-looking or decrepit horse ; nag  2. fellow 4c