Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶SKEUT, v., adj., adv., n. [skjut]
I. v. To turn from the right line, to go squint or astray; to walk with an awkward gait, putting down the feet with force; to cast or fall down flat (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 157).
II. adj. in comb. skeut-fittit, having the feet flat and turned outwards, splay-footed (Ib.).
III. adv. With awkward heavy steps, flat, with violence.Ib.:
He fell skeut amo' the clay.
IV. n. 1. A twist (Ib.); 2. Anything clumsy and misshapen, e.g. a shoe; a broad clumsy flat hand or foot (Ib.); 3. An unbecoming female of not very pleasant disposition and untidy habits (Ib.).
[Gregor is the only source for this word and its usages which in the main correspond with those of Skew, v.2, n.2, and may have arisen from the pa.p. skewt being treated as a finite verb. Some of the meanings seem to derive from onomatopoeic associations of splay-footedness in II., and IV. 3. is prob. an adaptation of Scout, n.1, 5.]
