scut1
[skuht]
- a short tail, especially that of a hare, rabbit, or deer.
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Origin of scut1
1400–50; late Middle English: hare < Old Norse skutr stern
scut2
[skuht]
- a worthless, contemptible person.
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Origin of scut2
1870–75; origin uncertain; perhaps continuation of Scots and dial. scout, scoot, Middle English scoute in same sense; perhaps noun use of Scots scout to spurt, squirt out, scoot
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for scut
Historical Examples
Pinch its scut or bite its ears, and when it exclaims, "Miauw!"
Fluff-Button doubled away nimbly from his rush, but even so the dog's jaws snapped together just behind his scut.
Lives of the Fur FolkM. D. Haviland
The fox sprang at it, too late, for the white fangs closed emptily behind its scut.
Red EveH. Rider Haggard
Both male and female have a dark line down the back, rump, and scut.
Rambles in the Islands of Corsica and SardiniaThomas Forester
On his head is a little round cap, with a tuft made out of a hare's or rabbit's scut.
The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi; Volume the firstCount Carlo Gozzi
scut
- the short tail of animals such as the deer and rabbit
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Word Origin
C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse skutr end of a vessel, Icelandic skott tail
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for scut
n.2
term of contempt for a person, 1873, of unknown origin.
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n.1
"short, erect tail" (of a rabbit, hare, deer, etc.), 1520s; earlier "a hare" (mid-15c.), perhaps from Old Norse skjota "to shoot (with a weapon), launch, push, shove quickly" (cf. Norwegian skudda "to shove, push"), from PIE *skeud- "to shoot, chase, throw" (see shoot (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper