Definition: Skidmore is a type of redwood tree. It's named after George Skidmore, an American financier and philanthropist who founded the Skidmore College in 1854. Definition: Skidmore refers to a large, old-fashioned tree that has been around for centuries. The name is derived from its distinctive shape, which resembles a wooden "skirt" or "skin" worn by sailors on ships sailing over rocky shores.