scrim·shaw
ˈskrim-ˌshȯ 
scrimshawed; scrimshawing; scrimshaws
: to carve or engrave into scrimshaw
: to produce scrimshaw
1
: any of various carved or engraved articles made originally by American whalers usually from baleen or whale ivory
2
: scrimshawed work
3
: the art, practice, or technique of producing scrimshaw
Examples of scrimshaw in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Farrington, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2023
Among them: Ivory tusks, nearly 25 scrimshawed whale teeth, and two mounted walrus skulls, a store employee told the Anchorage Daily News on Saturday.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Apr. 2018
Alison Cross, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2024
The Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly chambers, adorned with antlers and a scrimshaw walrus tusk, served as the nerve center for the search with Clement Sr. acting as spokesperson.
—Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2023
Duke Riley started out making maritime crafts, like sailor’s valentines and scrimshaws, entirely out of shells, bones and other natural materials that washed ashore on the beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and greater New York.
—Siobhan Reid, USA TODAY, 30 July 2023
Out on the high seas, despite cramped and filthy conditions, rampant scurvy, omnipresent rats, and the threat of tar-and-feathering, a skilled sailor left to his own devices might have occasion to carve out a fine pornographic scrimshaw on sea ivory.
—Cintra Wilson, The New York Review of Books, 17 Dec. 2020
From leather work and life-size bronze statues to intricate paintings on wasp-nest paper, scrimshaw and jewelry, his varied artistic creations reflect his unique talents and affinity with the natural world.
—New York Times, 26 July 2021
Such scrimshaws were often made by New England whalers.
—Palm Beach Post, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2019
Buying walrus tusk carvings or engravings (also known as scrimshaw) is legal—but only if the art was done by Alaska natives.
—National Geographic, 14 Apr. 2016
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
But only humans, with our ability to scrimshaw meaning onto the most mundane activities, turn walking into an occasion for pious celebration.
—Timothy Farrington, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2023
Among them: Ivory tusks, nearly 25 scrimshawed whale teeth, and two mounted walrus skulls, a store employee told the Anchorage Daily News on Saturday.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Apr. 2018
Noun
Both attempts failed after facing strong opposition from a variety of groups including museums, antique collectors, knifemakers and scrimshaw artists, sportsmen, musicians, and others.
—Alison Cross, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2024
The Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly chambers, adorned with antlers and a scrimshaw walrus tusk, served as the nerve center for the search with Clement Sr. acting as spokesperson.
—Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2023
Duke Riley started out making maritime crafts, like sailor’s valentines and scrimshaws, entirely out of shells, bones and other natural materials that washed ashore on the beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and greater New York.
—Siobhan Reid, USA TODAY, 30 July 2023
Out on the high seas, despite cramped and filthy conditions, rampant scurvy, omnipresent rats, and the threat of tar-and-feathering, a skilled sailor left to his own devices might have occasion to carve out a fine pornographic scrimshaw on sea ivory.
—Cintra Wilson, The New York Review of Books, 17 Dec. 2020
From leather work and life-size bronze statues to intricate paintings on wasp-nest paper, scrimshaw and jewelry, his varied artistic creations reflect his unique talents and affinity with the natural world.
—New York Times, 26 July 2021
Such scrimshaws were often made by New England whalers.
—Palm Beach Post, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2019
Buying walrus tusk carvings or engravings (also known as scrimshaw) is legal—but only if the art was done by Alaska natives.
—National Geographic, 14 Apr. 2016
Dictionary Entries Near scrimshaw
Cite this Entry
“Scrimshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrimshaw. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share