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.
Quotation dates: 1818-1862, 1925
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SKILT, v.1, n.1 Also skelt. [skɪlt]
I. v. To move about quickly and lightly, to dart, skip, hop, gad about (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1970). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage xxxiv.:
Skiltin aboot the streets half naked.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 4:
The bits o moppies skiltin aboot.
II. n. A flighty, giddy young person, a gadabout (Kcb.4 1900).Sc. 1824 Scots Mag. (May) 530:
A penny's better wared on his advice, than givin't awa' to ony o' thae young skilts o' writers.Sc. 1862 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Froude 1883) III. 118:
Ye lookit like a bit skelt on' a lassie, wi' that daft wee thing a-tap o' yer heed!
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"Skilt v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skilt_v1_n1>
