E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Skull.
You shall quaff beer out of the skulls of your enemies. (Scandinavian.) Skull means a cup or dish; hence a person who washes up cups and dishes is called a scullery-maid. (Scotch, skoll, a bowl; French, écuelle; Danish, skaal, a drinking-vessel; German, schale; our shell.)
