1. [n]  body covering of a living animal
2. [n]  an outer surface (usually thin); "the skin of an airplane"
3. [n]  a bag serving as a container for liquids; it is made from the skin of an animal
4. [n]  a natural protective covering of the body; site of the sense of touch; "your skin is the largest organ of your body"
5. [n]  the rind of a fruit or vegetable
6. [n]  a person's skin regarded as their life; "he tried to save his skin"
7. [n]  the tissue forming the hard outer layer (of e.g. a fruit)
8. [v]  strike against an object, as of one's toe or foot
9. [v]  strip the skin off ("pare apples")
10. [v]  remove the bark of a tree
11. [v]  bruise, cut, or injure the skin or the surface of; "The boy skinned his knee when he fell"
12. [v]  climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

Skin
These essays by the author of BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA and TRASH cover many of the themes that appear in her fiction: child abuse, the pain of loss, love and betrayal, and self-hatred.

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1. \Skin\, n. [Icel. skinn; akin to Sw. skinn, Dan. skind, AS.
   scinn, G. schined to skin.]
   1. (Anat.) The external membranous integument of an animal.
   Note: In man, and the vertebrates generally, the skin consist
         of two layers, an outer nonsensitive and nonvascular
         epidermis, cuticle, or skarfskin, composed of cells
         which are constantly growing and multiplying in the
         deeper, and being thrown off in the superficial,
         layers; and an inner sensitive, and vascular dermis,
         cutis, corium, or true skin, composed mostly of
         connective tissue.
   2. The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether
      green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal,
      as a calf, sheep, or goat.
   3. A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids. See
      {Bottle}, 1. ``Skins of wine.'' --Tennyson.
   4. The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of
      fruits and plants.
   5. (Naut.)
      (a) That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the
          outside and covers the whole. --Totten.
      (b) The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside
          the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel;
          the shell; also, a lining inside the framing.
   {Skin friction}, {Skin resistance} (Naut.), the friction, or
      resistance, caused by the tendency of water to adhere to
      the immersed surface (skin) of a vessel.
   {Skin graft} (Surg.), a small portion of skin used in the
      process of grafting. See {Graft}, v. t., 2.
   {Skin moth} (Zo["o]l.), any insect which destroys the
      prepared skins of animals, especially the larva of
      Dermestes and Anthrenus.
   {Skin of the teeth}, nothing, or next to nothing; the least
      possible hold or advantage. --Job xix. 20.
   {Skin wool}, wool taken from dead sheep.
   

2. \Skin\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Skinned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Skinning}.]
   1. To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to
      skin an animal.
   2. To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover
      superficially.
            It will but skin and film the ulcerous place.
                                                  --Shak.
   3. To strip of money or property; to cheat. [Slang]
   

3. \Skin\, v. i.
   1. To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.
   2. To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of
      another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs,
      memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited. [College Cant,
      U.S.]