This archetypal American expression — meaning to run away, scram, leave in a hurry or escape — has led etymologists a pretty dance in trying to work out where it comes from.

Is skedaddle a Southern word?

skedaddle (v.) "to run away," 1861, American Civil War military slang, of unknown origin, perhaps connected to earlier use in northern England dialect with a meaning "to spill." Liberman says it "has no connection with any word of Greek, Irish, or Swedish, and it is not a blend" [contra De Vere].

Where did the term skedaddle come from?

It is more probable that “skedaddle” is rooted in the Irish word “sgedadol,” meaning “scattered,” or the Scots word “”skiddle,” meaning “to spill or scatter.” Given the Scots-Irish heritage of many of the states central to the Civil War, these both seem like reasonable bets to me.

Is the word skedaddle slang?

It means to scatter, or drop in a scattering way. If you run with a bucket of potatoes or apples, and keep spilling some of them in an irregular way along the path, you are said to skedaddle them." The word came into US military slang during the Civil War.

What is the dictionary definition of skedaddle?

intransitive verb. : to leave immediately : run away, scram I've got to skedaddle or I'll be late. Whenever there was work to be done, he skedaddled. …

Americans Don't Understand English | The Jonathan Ross Show

21 related questions found

What does Scaddle mean?

1 dialectal, England : fierce, wild. 2 dialectal, England, of an animal : badly behaved : skittish.

How do you spell Scaddle?

verb (used without object), ske·dad·dled, ske·dad·dling. to run away hurriedly; flee.

How do you use skedaddle?

Skedaddle in a Sentence ?

1. When the tornado turned toward the storm chasers, they realized they had better skedaddle to a safer location.
2. After the murderers left the scene, they decided to skedaddle from the area so the police couldn't catch them.

What language is kerfuffle?

The Evolution of Kerfuffle

Fuffle was first used in Scottish English, as early as the 16th century, as a verb meaning "to dishevel." The addition of the prefix car- (possibly derived from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning "wrong" or "awkward") didn't change the meaning of the word considerably.

What is a Skadoodle?

Tyler "Skadoodle" Latham (born July 21, 1993) is an American player who currently plays for T1. He has a competitive past in Alliance of Valiant Arms, whom he notably played for DefkoN, dating back to 2010. He also has a professional background from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive which he began playing in 2012.

What does Bull malarkey mean?

: insincere or foolish talk : bunkum He thinks that everything politicians say is a bunch of malarkey.

What part of speech is putrid?

Rotting, rotten, being in a state of putrefaction.

Where did Lollygagging come from?

"Lollygag," also known historically as "lallygag," comes into English in the mid-19th century meaning to dawdle. However, at that time, "lollygag" also meant to fool around. Yes, that kind of fooling around.

What does skedaddle mean in the glass castle?

Where did skedaddle come from and what does it mean? The word skedaddle has been around for at least 150 years, having been spoken as slang in the American Civil War in reference to a quick retreat, or hurried exit.

What is a Kerfunkle?

A kerfuffle is some kind of commotion, controversy, or fuss. If you read about a scandal in a newspaper, it could be described as a kerfuffle. Kerfuffle is a humorous-sounding word for a mostly non-humorous situation: some kind of disturbance, scandal or mess. However, a kerfuffle usually isn't 100% serious.

Is kerfuffle used in USA?

“Kerfuffle” has been with us since the early 19th century, although until just after the Second World War it was, oddly enough, spelled “curfuffle.” Go figure.

Is being obsequious a good thing?

overly obedient or attentive. Being obsequious is also not a good sign.

Is Scaddle a word?

skad′l, adj. (prov.) mischievous, hurtful.

How do you spell subtel?

adjective, sub·tler, sub·tlest. thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor. fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand: subtle irony.

What part of speech is obnoxiously?

Very annoying, offensive, odious or contemptible.

What is a synonym of the word putrid?

Some common synonyms of putrid are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, rank, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. the putrid smell of rotting fish.