Is the pronunciation of “skein” regional? The standard dictionary pronunciation today is “skayn,” rhyming with rain, and that pronunciation shows up in modern dictionaries like the Merriam-Webster dictionary. But the word itself is much older. “Skein” entered English in the 14th century from Middle French escaigne, meaning a coil or bundle of yarn. In Middle English, spellings like skeyne and skayne appear in manuscripts, and those spellings suggest a pronunciation closer to “skayn.” However, re