skeleton

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
skeleton/ˈskelɪtn/

▶noun

• 1 an internal or external framework of bone, cartilage, or other rigid material supporting or containing the body of an animal or plant.

  ■ a very thin or emaciated person or animal.

• 2 a supporting framework, basic structure, or essential part.

  ■ [as modifier] denoting an essential or minimum number of people or things: a skeleton staff.

– phrases
skeleton in the cupboard (N. Amer. skeleton in the closet) a discreditable or embarrassing fact that someone wishes to keep secret.

– derivatives
skeletonize (or skeletonise) verb.

– origin C16: mod. L., from Gk, neut. of skeletos ‘dried up’.