Etymology Origin uncertain. Perhaps from Old Norse skjúta (“to shoot, dart, move quickly”), variant of skjóta. Compare flytja (“to move”). Alternately, perhaps a back-formation from skittish, which in turn may derive from Old Norse or another North Germanic language.
1
A short comic performance done by amateurs.
2
A jeer or sally; a brief satire.
That is a mere skit compared with this strange performance.1882, Leslie Stephen, Swift:
However, terrible as it may seem to the tall maiden sisters of J.P.'s in Queen Anne houses with walled vegetable gardens, this courtesan, strumpet, harlot, whore, punk, fille de joie, street-walker, this trollop, this trull, this baggage, this hussy, this drab, skit, rig, quean, mopsy, demirep, demimondaine, this wanton, this fornicatress, this doxy, this concubine, this frail sister, this poor Queenie—did actually solicit me, did actually say 'coming home to-night, dearie' and my soul was not blasted enough to call a policeman.1936, Anthony Bertram, Like the Phoenix:
4
A short, sharp shower (of rain).
... there come on a 'skit' of rain, and I made for one of his barns for shelter.1880, Richard Jefferies, Round about a Great Estate, page 9:
Suddenly there came a little volley of sharp drops - not of the liquid he desired - dashed into the trumpeter's red face , and against the back of the parson's hat - the first skit of rain, that seemed rather to rise as if from a blow-pipe, than fall from the clouds.1894, Richard Doddridge Blackmore, Perlycross: A Novel, page 373:
1 more example
Diana did not obey him, but stood in the rain. 'I don't care for a skit of rain.' 'Get in, quick.' When she did not move he sprang up, and catching her up in his arms, set her down in the hollow.1929, Henry Williamson, The Pathway, page 222:
5
Diarrhea, in livestock; the scour.
The Cause and Nature of the Skit, or Scour, of Sheep and Lambs.1749, William Ellis, A Compleat System of Experienced Improvements, Made on Sheep, Grass-lambs, and House-lambs: Or, ... the Shepherd's Sure Guide: ... In Three Books. By William Ellis, ..., page 355:
[…] quality in the seeds which he cannot account for, that of killing lambs at about ten days old; they die of the skit, or scouring; and it is particularly experienced in new inclosures; […]1799, Arthur Young, Board of Agriculture (Great Britain), General View of the Agriculture of the County of Lincoln: Drawn Up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, page 376:
2 more examples
... the "skit." A practised eye can generally tell for two or three days before it commences what is coming on. The lambs look dull, their coats are staring. Generally the scour is of a dark greenish colour - sometimes almost[…]1873, The Farmer's Magazine, page 43:
... lambs, and on the appearance of the skit or scour, the necessity for a change of food is indicated.1900, Thomas Hartwell Horne, The Complete Grazier and Farmers' and Cattle-breeders' Assistant: Forming a Compendium of Husbandry, page 1051:
Etymology Origin uncertain. Perhaps from Old Norse skjúta (“to shoot, dart, move quickly”), variant of skjóta. Compare flytja (“to move”). Alternately, perhaps a back-formation from skittish, which in turn may derive from Old Norse or another North Germanic language.
Regional To caper; to skip or run lightly and quickly.
Yet soon's she hears me mention Muirland Willie, / She skits an' flings like ony towmont filly- […]1873, Robert Tannahill, The Soldier's Return: A Scottish Interlude in Two Acts. With Other Poems and Songs, page 12:
The big man stood across, as if to hide the cart; but the man behind the horse skitted back into a bush, very nimble and clever, but not quite smart enough.1894, Richard Doddridge Blackmore, Perlycross: A Tale of the Western Hills, page 64:
2 more examples
I could feel her eyes skitting over to me after she said something that might have shocked me - but I stayed quiet.2002 November 26, Sue Miller, While I Was Gone, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 164:
Micah watched the cloudcast shadows skitting over the snowfields before him – then screwed his face up in surprise when some of them seemed to come to a halt. He looked up. The clouds were still moving , and when he looked back at the plains he realized that the motionless grey shapes were not shadows at all.2013 September 3, Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell, Bloodhoney, Open Road Media, →ISBN: