Definition of skate

The word "skate" has a fascinating etymological history that dates back to the 16th century. Originally, the term was used to describe a type of flatfish called the common skate (Raja batis), which was common in European waters. The word "skate" comes from the Middle Dutch word "scaate" or "skaade", which means "shovel nose" or "spade". This name was given to the common skate because of its distinctive flattened body shape with a large, wide head that resembles a spade. The name "skate" was later applied to a type of ice-skating that emerged in the Netherlands in the 1740s. The first recorded use of the term "skate" in this context is in a letter written by Dutchman Arthur Kinny in 1760. In the letter, Kinny describes a new form of winter entertainment called "roller skating on the ice", which involved gliding on the ice using roller-skate-like devices resembling a pair of clogs attached to long blades of wooden boards. The name "skate" was adopted by the English language and eventually became synonymous with the activity of rolling on ice using mounted wheels, which we know today as ice-skating. The sport's invention is credited to American John Zink, who first demonstrated his ice skates that had metal runners attached, in Philadelphia in 1849. Further advancements in ice-skate technology, including steel blades, led to the creation of speed skating, figure skating, and ice hockey, which continue to be popular sports today. In summary, the origin of the word "skate" can be traced back to the Middle Dutch word "scaate" or "skaade", which was first used to describe a type of fish. It is thought that this name was given to the fish because of its unique flattened body shape that resembled a spade, and this name was later applied to the activity of gliding on ice using roller-skate-like devices, which eventually evolved into the sport of ice-skating as we know it today.