scat

¹

[ skat ]

verb (used without object)

, Informal.

, scat·ted, scat·ting.

1. to go off hastily (often used in the imperative).

scat

²

[ skat ]

verb (used without object)

, scat·ted, scat·ting.

1. 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

1. scat singing.

scat

³

[ skat ]

noun

1. the excrement of a wild animal.

scat

⁴

[ skat ]

noun

, Slang.

1. heroin.

scat

⁵

or scatt

[ skat ]

noun

1. (in the Shetland and Orkney Islands) a crown tax, as for use of common lands.

scat-

⁶

1. variant of scato- before a vowel.

scat

¹

/ skæt /

noun

1. an animal dropping

scat

²

/ skæt /

noun

1. any marine and freshwater percoid fish of the Asian family Scatophagidae, esp Scatophagus argus, which has a beautiful coloration

scat

³

/ skæt /

verb

1. informal.
   intr; usually imperative to go away in haste

scat

⁴

/ skæt /

noun

1. a type of jazz singing characterized by improvised vocal sounds instead of words

verb

1. intr to sing jazz in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of scat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; of uncertain origin

Origin of scat²

First recorded in 1925–30; of uncertain origin

Origin of scat³

First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain; compare British dialect (southwestern) scat “to scatter, fling down, bespatter”; Greek skat- (stem of skôr “dung”; scato- ) is an unlikely source, given popular character of the word and unmotivated derivation pattern

Origin of scat⁴

First recorded in 1945–50; of uncertain origin; compare earlier scat (slang) “whiskey”

Origin of scat⁵

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse skattr “tax, treasure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scat¹

C20: see scato-

Origin of scat²

C20: shortened from Scatophagus; see scato-

Origin of scat³

C19: perhaps from a hiss + the word cat, used to frighten away cats

Origin of scat⁴

C20: perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

I remember I heard something fiddling around in the galley, and I hollered 'Scat!'

From Project Gutenberg

The poor man, in an access both of alarm and courage, whirled the bar about his head and shouted "Scat!"

From Project Gutenberg

Scat′hold, open ground for pasture; Scat′land, land which paid duty for rights of pasture and peat.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, it would have spoiled everything, and Angel encouraged the animal's exit with a suppressed "Scat!"

From Project Gutenberg

And every man went his way, and the corps are the "Scat-ups" to this day.

From Project Gutenberg