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Original · left

Skimming (reading or cream)

Reading quickly for main points, or removing cream from milk.

First in use: the 1300s
Duplicate · right

Card skimming

Stealing card data with a hidden reader attached to an ATM or gas pump.

First in use: the 1990s

Skimming / Skimming (reading or cream) / Card skimming

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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Speed-reading vs. card readers on ATMs.

Which meaning of Skimming is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Skimming (reading or cream) came first (the 1300s). Card skimming arrived in the 1990s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Skimming (reading or cream)Card skimming
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1300s

Skimming (reading or cream)

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Duplicate · the 1990s

Card skimming

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More duplicated terms

Cybersecurity