English Explanatory Dictionary

skeleton crew

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A crew consisting of the minimum number of personnel needed to maintain and operate the basic functions of something, such as a business, a factory, or a ship.

Pronunciation

/ˌskɛlɪtn ˈkɹuː/ /ˌskɛlətən ˈkɹu/ En-au-skeleton crew.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-skeleton crew.wav

Word forms

skeleton crew skeleton crews

Etymology

From skeleton (“(military) small number of soldiers in a regiment far short of its full strength; (especially attributive) bare essentials, minimum”) + crew, metaphorically referring to a crew being bare bones rather than adequately fleshed out.

Related words

skeleton service skeleton staff short-staffed skeletonized bare-bones
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