Date:  Tue, 13 Jan 1998 12:12:10 -0500
From:  Jesse T Sheidlower <jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM>
Subject: Re: skell

Larry Horn wrote:

> subways, whether or not of criminal inclination. One question that arises
> now is whether we might anticipate an extended use to other cities that
> don't have subways open all night: will a "skell" be any vagrant? Any
> small-time hood (following the apparent use on NYPD Blue)? Has anyone
> encountered a non-NYC use of the word?

I don't have any _reliable_ non-NYC attestations, but do have a number
of cites in broader senses along the lines of 'lowlife; dirtbag' as
well as 'low-level criminal' (when these can be distinguished). Despite
its often being defined as 'vagrant sleeping in subways', I think this
stems more from the specificity of the 1982 N.Y. Times citation that
has been frequently requoted, as David points out, than from actual
usage. That is, I think the sense 'vagrant sleeping in subway' is
factitious.

I also think that the frequent use of the word on NYPD Blue and
Brooklyn South will probably help it spread to non-NYC communities.

Jesse Sheidlower