Stephen Skinner (lexicographer)

Stephen Skinner (1623-1667) was an English etymologist and physician. Born in London, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, earning a BA in 1642 and an MA in 1646. He subsequently practiced medicine in Lincoln.

Skinner is primarily known for his posthumously published etymological dictionary, Etymologicon Linguæ Anglicanæ (1671). This work, edited and published by Thomas Henshaw, aimed to provide derivations for English words, drawing on a wide range of languages including Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin.

The Etymologicon was ambitious in scope and represented a significant, albeit flawed, early effort in the field of English etymology. While some of Skinner's derivations were accurate, many were based on speculation and linguistic misconceptions common at the time. Despite its inaccuracies by modern standards, the dictionary was a valuable resource for scholars of its era and influenced subsequent lexicographers. Its importance lies in its pioneering attempt to systematically trace the origins of English vocabulary and in providing a comprehensive overview of the then-current understanding of language relationships. He died in Lincoln, supposedly as a result of pneumonia contracted while working on his dictionary.