The internal structure composed of bone and cartilage that protects and supports the soft organs, tissues, and other parts of a vertebrate organism; endoskeleton.
The hard external supporting and protecting structure in many invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, and certain vertebrates, such as turtles; exoskeleton.
A supporting structure or framework, as of a building.
An outline or sketch.
Something reduced to its basic or minimal parts.
One that is very thin or emaciated.
adj.
Of, relating to, or resembling a skeleton.
Reduced to the basic or minimal parts or members: a skeleton crew.
[Greek skeleton (sōma), dried-up (body), neuter of skeletos, from skellesthai, to dry up.]
(skěl'ĭ-tn) 