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
John Hodgman,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
12 Feb. 2026
All of the cockfighters, lottery participants, and sailors throwing scrimshaw dice had to work around the ethical code imposed by Quakers, Shakers, and Puritans who vehemently opposed these games of chance.
—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
The Freewheelin’ one has beautiful scrimshaw bone buttons; then there is a snap-front tan suede motor jacket.
—
Ingrid Schmidt,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
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
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
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Verb
At this point, asking them to write an email is the same as asking them to scrimshaw their memo to you.
—
John Hodgman,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
The only item that was written down in his will was John’s beloved scrimshaw set—sailor’s carvings made from whales’ teeth.
—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
12 Feb. 2026
All of the cockfighters, lottery participants, and sailors throwing scrimshaw dice had to work around the ethical code imposed by Quakers, Shakers, and Puritans who vehemently opposed these games of chance.
—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
The Freewheelin’ one has beautiful scrimshaw bone buttons; then there is a snap-front tan suede motor jacket.
—
Ingrid Schmidt,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Scrimshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrimshaw. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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