Skedaddle Definition

skĭ-dădl
skedaddled, skedaddles, skedaddling
verb
To run off or away; leave in a hurry.
Webster's New World
noun
A running or scurrying away.
Webster's New World

Origin of Skedaddle

  • 19th century US. Probably an alteration of British dialect scaddle (“to run off in a fright"), from the adjective scaddle (“wild, timid, skittish"), from Middle English scathel, skadylle (“harmful, fierce, wild"), of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skaði (“harm"). Possibly related to the Greek σκέδασις (skedasis, “scattering"), σκεδασμός (skedasmos, “dispersion"). (US) Possibly related to scud or scat.

    From Wiktionary

  • Probably alteration of British dialectal scaddle to run off in fear from scaddle wild, thievish, skittish from Middle English scathel wild, harmful probably of Old Norse origin skadha to hurt, scathe

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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skedaddle