/skuːt/
OriginOf uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old Norse skjóta (“to shoot”), or perhaps related to Middle English scottlynge (“moving one's feet quickly, scampering”, literally “scuttling”), see scuddle, scuttle.
- A sideways shuffling or sliding motion.
“Instinctively, he lifted the chair a fraction, and gave it a little scoot away from her.”
- slangA dollar.
- slangA scooter.
“When you meet with your club, park in front of the café or bar so the world can see your scoots.”
- ScotlandA sudden flow of water; a squirt.
- intransitiveTo walk or travel fast; to go quickly.
- intransitiveTo run away hastily; scram.
“You'd better scoot before my mother gets home and sees that broken window!”
- To move with the forelegs while sitting, so that the floor rubs against its rear end.
“The dog was scooting all over our new carpet.”
“If you ever see your dog scooting its hind end along the floor, chances are that anal sac irritation or impaction exists.”
“What if my cat is biting its tail, scooting or rubbing its bottom on the ground?”
- intransitive, oftenTo move sideways (especially along a seat for multiple people), usually to make room for someone else (to sit, stand, etc.).
“Do you mind scooting a bit to the left?”
“Would you mind scooting over for me?”
- transitiveTo dispatch someone or something at speed; Synonym of shoo.
“He scooted us out of the study and turned off the light […]”
- intransitiveTo ride on a scooter.
- Scotland, transitiveTo squirt.
- abbreviation, alt-of, initialismInitialism of Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique: a system for the coordination and control of traffic signals across an urban road network.
Formsscoots(plural) · scoots(present, singular, third-person) · scooting(participle, present) · scooted(participle, past) · scooted(past)