Stephen Skinner (lexicographer) facts for kids

Stephen Skinner (1623–1667) was an English doctor from Lincoln. He was also a lexicographer, which means he wrote dictionaries, and an etymologist, someone who studies where words come from.

Who Was Stephen Skinner?

Stephen Skinner was born in 1623. His father was John Skinner from London. Stephen started studying at Christ Church, Oxford, in December 1639.

Skinner's Education and Travels

When the First English Civil War began, Stephen Skinner left England. He returned to Oxford in 1646. Because he had served abroad, he was allowed to get two degrees in the same year. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) on October 21 and his Master of Arts (M.A.) on November 10.

Skinner then decided to study medicine. He went to Leiden University in the Netherlands in April 1649. Later, in May 1653, he studied at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He returned to Leiden in November 1653. In early 1654, he earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Heidelberg. He then had this degree recognized at Oxford in May of the same year.

Later Life and Passing

In December 1664, Skinner became an honorary fellow of the London College of Physicians. He worked as a doctor in Lincoln. Stephen Skinner sadly passed away from a serious fever on September 5, 1667. His estate was managed by his sister, Elizabeth Bowyer, and his daughter, Stephanie Skinner.

Stephen Skinner's Important Work

Stephen Skinner left behind several important writings about language. These were in manuscript form, meaning they were handwritten. Thomas Henshaw later edited them. They were published in London in 1671. The book was called Etymologicon Linguæ Anglicanæ.

The First English Etymological Dictionary

This book was the very first important etymological dictionary of the English language. It helped people understand where English words came from. Skinner's dictionary was published three years before John Ray's book about English dialects. Skinner's work included many words and phrases used in his home county of Lincolnshire.

Influence on Other Dictionary Writers

A famous dictionary writer named Samuel Johnson used Skinner's work. Johnson mentioned how helpful Skinner's dictionary was in the introduction to his own Dictionary in 1755.