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.
SKOIT, v., n. Also scoit, scüit, skuyt, sküit, ¶scyot, skott (Jak.), skut. [skɔ(i)t]
I. v. To cast an inquiring look, peer, pry, peep, reconnoitre (Sh. 1825 Jam., 1908 Jak. (1928), skott, 1914 Angus Gt., skut, Sh. 1970). Hence skoiter, skotter, one who peeps, transf. a piece of wood set up in the bows of a boat, as a dummy lookout (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 592:
Hiz wyfe baad him skuyt i da doar gin da sholmit kū wiz kum hemm.Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark Northern Gleams 152:
The girl would step forward, and attempt to scoit under Davie's veil.Sh. 1931 Shetland Almanac 192:
Een leck a blink o' blue sky skoitin troo da stoor in a cloody day.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 32:
Me scoitin' fur Gibbie, I never noteeced.Sh. 1960 New Shetlander No. 54. 18:
Wir nedder seekin da Kremlin on wir briggstens nar da Yankee airforce fleein ower ta skoit at dem.
II. n. 1. An inquiring or inquisitive look, a peep, a surreptitious view. Phrs. to stand upo skoit, to be on the watch or look out, to tak a skoit, to have a peep (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970).Sh. 1894 J. M. E. Saxby Camsterie Nacket 146:
I took a scyot at the nacket's bit o' letter.
2. Sight, view, range of vision (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970). Phr. to be or come in skoit (Id.).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (21 Aug.):
Be dis time we wir comin' in sküit o' da sea.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 130:
Rönis Hill in skut, or the Pobies dippin?
