Reference > Brewer’s Dictionary > Skimble-Skamble.

 Skillygolee.Skim’mington. 
CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
 
Skimble-Skamble.
 
Rambling, worthless. “Skamble” is merely a variety of scramble, hence “scambling days,” those days in Lent when no regular meals are provided, but each person “scrambles” or shifts for himself. “Skimble” is added to give force. (See REDUPLICATED WORDS.)   1
       
“And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff
As put me from my faith.”
       
Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., iii. 1.
       
“With such scamble-scemble, spitter-spatter,
As puts me cleane beside the money-matter.”
       
Taylor’s Workes, ii. 39 (1630).
 


 Skillygolee.Skim’mington. 

 
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