scat
1[ skat ]
/ skæt /
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verb (used without object), scat·ted, scat·ting.Informal.
to go off hastily (often used in the imperative).
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Origin of scat
1An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; of uncertain origin
Other definitions for scat (2 of 6)
scat2
[ skat ]
/ skæt /
verb (used without object), scat·ted, scat·ting.
to sing by making full or partial use of the technique of scat singing, in which the singer substitutes improvised nonsense syllables for the words of a song.
noun
scat singing.
Origin of scat
2First recorded in 1925–30; of uncertain origin
Other definitions for scat (3 of 6)
scat3
[ skat ]
/ skæt /
noun
the excrement of a wild animal.
Origin of scat
3First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain; compare British dialect (southwestern) scat “to scatter, fling down, bespatter”; Greek skat- (stem of skôr “dung”; see scato-) is an unlikely source, given popular character of the word and unmotivated derivation pattern
Other definitions for scat (4 of 6)
Origin of scat
4First recorded in 1945–50; of uncertain origin; compare earlier scat (slang) “whiskey”
Other definitions for scat (5 of 6)
scat5
or scatt
[ skat ]
/ skæt /
noun
(in the Shetland and Orkney Islands) a crown tax, as for use of common lands.
Origin of scat
5First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse skattr “tax, treasure”
Other definitions for scat (6 of 6)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use scat in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for scat (1 of 4)
scat1
/ (skæt) /
verb scats, scatting or scatted
(intr; usually imperative) informal to go away in haste
Word Origin for scat
C19: perhaps from a hiss + the word cat, used to frighten away cats
British Dictionary definitions for scat (2 of 4)
scat2
/ (skæt) /
noun
a type of jazz singing characterized by improvised vocal sounds instead of words
verb scats, scatting or scatted
(intr) to sing jazz in this way
Word Origin for scat
C20: perhaps imitative
British Dictionary definitions for scat (3 of 4)
scat3
/ (skæt) /
noun
any marine and freshwater percoid fish of the Asian family Scatophagidae, esp Scatophagus argus, which has a beautiful coloration
Word Origin for scat
C20: shortened from Scatophagus; see scato-
British Dictionary definitions for scat (4 of 4)
scat4
/ (skæt) /
noun
an animal dropping
Word Origin for scat
C20: see scato-
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