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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SKIRT, n., v.¹ Also ¶scairt. Sc. usages:

I. n. A short-gown (Cld. 1880 Jam. s.v. Skurt), see Short, I. 5. (9); a riding petticoat (Fif. 1880 Jam.).

II. v. 1. To run away, decamp, hurry off, elope (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 158; Gsw. 1910; ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., Lnk., Kcb. 1970).Mry. 1804 R. Couper Poetry I. 56:
The tempest wild, that lour'd sae sair, Sails skirting oure the hill.Clc. 1852 G. P. Boyd Misc. Poems 57:
My wife at me has taen the huff an' skirted to her daddie, O.Edb. 1853 C. Reade Christie Johnstone xiii.:
“Ye fool-moothed drunken leear, — Scairt!” . . . Beeny's scairtit.Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 144:
Awa' to the office we skirted wi' speed.w.Lth. 1881 H. Shanks Musings 374:
She has skirted wi' a lodger chiel.Abd. 1909 C. Murray Hamewith 21:
The herd just gied his kye a turn an' skirtit doon the hill.Mry. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 72:
Geyan close on half-a-dizzen o' years it is, sin' her lad skirtet fae the toon.

2. tr. and intr. To elude, evade, to keep out of reach (of) (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.); to lurk, skulk, play truant from (school) (e.Lth., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1930).e.Lth. 1884 P. McNeill Tranent 278:
Help puir Tam to skirt the clauts o' the hangman.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 188:
Is't possible she can hae skirted oot the tiler's road?Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 107:
She sent a threet'nin' message to the Prophet i' the rain: He skirtit for a filie.