Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French eschanson ‎(“officer in charge of serving drinks to the table of a king or a prince, cupbearer”), from Old Frankish *skankjo ‎(“cupbearer”), from Proto-Germanic *skankijô ‎(“server or pourer of drinks”), from Proto-Germanic *skankijaną ‎(“to pour in, serve drinks”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)keng- ‎(“to limp, be crooked, slant”). Cognate with Old High German scencho ‎(“cupbearer”), Old High German scenken ‎(“to pur in, give drink to, water”), Old English scencan ‎(“to skink, pout out, give drink to”). More at skink, shink.