# Skite: Cite for this non-word?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 15, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552 "2007-11-15T16:15:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/1 "2007-11-15T16:15:32Z")
Background: As a youth, when my folks’d ask me to sweep the floor they’d always give me the admonition, “Make sure you don’t skite the dirt!”
Skite, I took to mean not controlling the dirt I was sweeping, but shooting it across the floor.
OED, Webster’s have no entry. Has anyone heard this word used? In this context? Cite?
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/2 "2007-11-15T16:19:54Z")
“Skite” is, or at least _was_ a word. It’s part of the compound word “blatherskite”. Although there are competing theories, I find the one that says it’s a form of “shit/shite” convincing, as it suggests the original meaning of “blatherskite” is “to babble 9words worth) shit”
This doesn’t seem to be _quite_ the same as your meaning, but its association with “dirt” suggests it might be related.
But to be honest, I can’t tell from your post what the meaning actually _is_. What the heck does it mean to “skite the dirt”? What would you be doing to it?
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### Author:  [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/3 "2007-11-15T16:25:32Z")
What’s the pronunciation? Did they say “skeet”? Here “skeet” can mean sliding something across the floor quickly (like, say, a hockey puck).
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/4 "2007-11-15T16:27:07Z")
I gather from the OP that skiting the dirt means to sweep so vigorously that the dirt is violently disturbed, causing it to scatter instead of being pushed sedately forward by the broom.
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### Author:  [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/5 "2007-11-15T16:27:35Z")
Sorry, **90**.
Skite pronouned like “site” or “right.”
Correct, **Otto**.
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/6 "2007-11-15T16:31:13Z")
In Canberra, to skite is to dash around with wheels on your feet.
If there is curling in Australia, your example could be some cryptic reference to the sweepers’ manic scrubbing with their brooms.
Eh, I got nothin’.
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/7 "2007-11-15T16:40:54Z")
FWIW [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=skite&defid=1213703) has a listing for “skite” meaning “to slide in an uncontrolled fashion.” Which is fairly close to the non-slang word “skitter.”
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/8 "2007-11-15T16:46:31Z")
[QUOTE=Otto]
FWIW [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=skite&defid=1213703) has a listing for “skite” meaning “to slide in an uncontrolled fashion.”
[/QUOTE]
It’s used in that manner in Scotland. Rhymes with shite.
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### Author:  [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/9 "2007-11-15T16:55:35Z")
[QUOTE=ChiefScott]
OED, Webster’s have no entry.
[/QUOTE]
The _OED_ does have it, as a verb and as a noun. The verb is defined as, ‘To shoot or dart swiftly, esp. in an oblique direction; to run lightly and rapidly; to make off hastily’, with it being noted that, ‘This verb, and the corresponding n., have much currency in dial. use…’.
Unless your folks were using it in its other meaning, which is, ‘To void excrement’…
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### Author:  [@Ardrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ardrine)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/10 "2007-11-15T16:58:29Z")
In Ireland, I have often heard “on a skite”, meaning a pointless fun outing, like a junket or gallivanting. Googling the expression suggests it might be used like this in Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. This seems similar in meaning to the OP’s use, and could also possibly (speculatively) be connected to “blatherskite” as in talking that isn’t going anywhere in particular.
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### Author:  [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/11 "2007-11-15T16:58:30Z")
Thanks, **Otto**. I’ve added that site to my favorites, though this seems to be related to Wiki. It _is_ the 6th entry, but the definition is correct.
I took the word “skitter” and looked it up in Webster’s New Collegiate and note that it is a verb: [prob. freq. of E dial. _skite_ to move quickly]. That seems to be right on the mark.
Who knew that Mom was a master of archaic English?!
Thanks all.
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### Author:  [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/12 "2007-11-15T17:16:57Z")
Pipeline welders have a distinct jargon,the terms of which are understood nationally ( U.S.)
One of them is “skating the bead”,heard around the Northeast,“scoot” amongst the Bayou and some of the Yankees nawth o’ Mameaux.
I heard skite a couple times.In all cases it means to seal the bevels at highest possible speed.The resulting weld is thin as tissue.Contractors love it.
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### Author:  [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/13 "2007-11-15T17:19:46Z")
_Skite_ is also the name of a now discontinued line of kites made by the Frisbee company.
And mine’s broken, dammit.
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### Author:  [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/14 "2007-11-15T18:03:37Z")
Three entries in the OED.
> [@](#):
>
> skite, vb, 1
>
> To void excrement. Hence skiting ppl. a.
>
> skite, vb, 2
>
> 1. intr. To shoot or dart swiftly, esp. in an oblique direction; to run lightly and rapidly; to make off hastily. Sc. and dial.
>
> 2. To slip suddenly. Sc. and dial.
>
> 3. To brag, to boast. Austral. and N.Z. colloq.
>
> skite, n.
>
> 1. A sudden, vigorous stroke or blow, esp. one given in an oblique direction; an oblique impact, or one which causes a rebound.
>
> 2. A trick; a skit.
>
> 3. A person who on some account or other is regarded with contempt.
>
> 4. Austral. and N.Z. colloq. a. Boasting, boastfulness; ostentation, show; conceit.
>
> 5. A jollification, a spree, a binge. Freq. in phr. on the skite. orig. and chiefly Sc.
All are of Scottish/N. English origin (other than the Aussie usages)
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### Author:  [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/15 "2007-11-15T18:17:50Z")
Yeah, I always associate _skite_ with bragging.
But I grew up in NZ. We had not other meanings.
Si
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### Author:  [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/16 "2007-11-15T18:19:18Z")
Yeah, I always associate _skite_ with bragging.
But I grew up in NZ. We never used it an any other way.
Si
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### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/17 "2007-11-15T21:37:37Z")
[QUOTE=si\_blakely]
Yeah, I always associate _skite_ with bragging.
[/QUOTE]
I’d certainly agree with that.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/18 "2007-11-15T21:54:26Z")
Just for completeness, here’s the information from the [Dictionary of the Scottish Tongue (Scots English)](http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/). Edited for brevity of entry.
SKITE , v.
1. intr. To dart, to shoot, fly through the air suddenly and forcibly, and freq. in an oblique direction, to fly off at a tangent (Sc. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems Gl. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), “to fall or be driven forcibly in a slanting direction, as rain by wind” (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Gen.Sc.
* * *
So, a Scottish / Northern English cognate of Standard English ‘shoot.’
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/19 "2007-11-15T22:37:25Z")
[QUOTE=si\_blakely]
Yeah, I always associate _skite_ with bragging.
But I grew up in NZ. We never used it an any other way.
[/QUOTE]
I concur, on every point.
Which would suggest a link to this “blatherskite” word, I’m guessing.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2007, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skite-cite-for-this-non-word/426552/20 "2007-11-16T09:33:16Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad]
I concur, on every point.
Which would suggest a link to this “blatherskite” word, I’m guessing.
[/QUOTE]
Me to.