skitter
[skit-er]
- to go, run, or glide lightly or rapidly.
- to skim along a surface.
- Angling. to draw a lure or a baited hook over the water with a skipping motion.
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- to cause to skitter.
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Origin of skitter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for skittered
Contemporary Examples
Keith had me do this as I skittered across the gym like a giraffe at watering hole.
Historical Examples
He skittered on all fours till he reached the middle of the path.
The Best Made PlansEverett B. Cole
I skittered off toward the door to the stage, because that was the easiest direction.
No Great MagicFritz Reuter Leiber
They skittered across the floor, one of them slipping through the heating-grating.
MakersCory Doctorow
He skittered over the water, going down and coming up, until he had leaped seven times.
Tales of FishesZane Grey
She was shrieking, laughing as she skittered past him, clutching a gleaming gold helmet.
Dream TownHenry Slesar
skitter
- (intr often foll by off) to move or run rapidly or lightly; scamper
- to skim or cause to skim lightly and rapidly, as across the surface of water
- (intr) angling to draw a bait lightly over the surface of water
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Word Origin
C19: probably from dialect skite to dash about; related to Old Norse skjōta to shoot
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for skittered
skitter
v.
"to run rapidly," 1845, frequentative of skite "to dart, run quickly" (1721), perhaps from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse skjota "to shoot, launch, move quickly, avoid (a blow)," or Norwegian dialectal skutla "glide rapidly"); see skittish. As a noun from 1905.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper