From New Latin sceleton, from Ancient Greek σκελετός ("dried up, withered, dried body, parched, mummy"), from σκέλλω, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- ("to parch, wither"); compare Ancient Greek σκληρός ("hard").
The etymology of the term is disputed between two versions.
From the sled used, which originally was a bare frame, like a skeleton.
From Norwegian kjaelke through a bad anglicization as "skele".
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