n. pl. [skilja; Engl. skill; Dan. skjel; a word borrowed from the Norse]:—a distinction, of eyesight and hearing; menn sá varla handa sinna skil, one could hardly distinguish one’s own hands, Eb. 260; sjá varla fingra sinna skil, Bs. i. 352; nema orða-skil, to catch the distinction of words, Eb. 28; kunna daga-skil, Sks.

2. a weaver’s term, the space between the threads.

II. metaph. discernment, knowledge; kunna góð skil á e-m (e-u), to have favourable knowledge of, to know distinctly, well, Ld. 22; vita skil á e-u, id., K. Á. 108, Gþl. 25; kunna skil e-s, Am. 9; Snorri vissi góð skil á honum, Eb. 142.

2. an adjustment, fair dealings, due, Dan. skjel; segja skil á e-u, to declare, Ld. 234; göra skil á e-u, to give an account of, Grág. i. 440; at skilum ok at lögmáli réttu, Gþl. 306; stefna e-m til skila, to cite a person to answer in court, Grág. i. 175, 179, ii. 227; færa mál til skila, to put a case right, Fms. v. 324; verða at litlum skilum, to be of little account, come to naught, Fms. ix. 297; svara skilum fyrir e-t, vii. 127; sá arfr skal at skilum fara, Jb. 156; koma öllu til skila, Ísl. ii. 131; hann sendi konunginum einn fríðan hest, ok kom sá vel til skila, Bs. i. 710; þar sem þryti silfr skyldi borðbúnaðinn fyrir gefa, svá at allir hefði góð skil, so that all should have their due, Fms. x. 147; hann átti engan erfingja þann er skil væri at, he had no trusty heir, Sturl. i. 45.

3. as a law term, pleading, public speaking; leysa öll lögmælt skil, Grág. i. 28, Nj. 232.

4. a despatch, message.

COMPDS: skilaboð, skiladómr, skiladottir, skilalítill, skilamaðr.