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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SKIDDLE, v.¹, n. Also variants skittle, skytle. [skɪdl]

I. v. 1. tr. To splash (a liquid), to squirt water about, cause a small splash or splutter, to spill, to dabble or potter in an aimless sort of way like a child playing with water (Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) § 85; Mry., m.Sc. 1970). Ppl.adj. skiddlin, ¶skittling, splashing, watery, wishy-washy, insipid; vbl.n. skittling, “the feminine practice of washing stockings, handkerchiefs and “smalls” in the bedroom or bathroom wash-basin in hotels” (Sc. 1920 Partridge Slang Dict.); agent n. skiddler, a small fish, as a minnow or stickleback, a tiddler (Ags. 1970).Edb. 1828 M. & M. Corbett Tales & Leg. III. 149:
Ye skiddled some soup on't [coat].wm.Sc. 1917 H. Foulis Jimmy Swan 281:
Tea at the best's a skiddlin' thing ye tak' to wash doon breid and butter.Gsw. 1929 D. Allan The Deans x.:
When he yearned for a satisfying high tea, a lot of skittling wee dishes were set before him.Ayr. 1928:
Dinna skiddle the milk.wm.Sc. 1946:
He skiddles his tea intae his saucer every time he stirs his cup. She couldna wash twa fingers without skiddlin the hail fluir.Gsw. 1953 Evening Times (10 June) 2:
An' me that fond o' skiddlin' aboot.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 27:
The wean's ben the scullery skiddlin in the sink. The child is through the kitchen playing with water in the sink. Sc. 1997 Scotsman 11 Apr 18:
I do not do spreadsheets, and desktop publishing is just a bit of skiddling, really. As for the web, well, yes, but it is not what it is cracked up to be, is it? Sc. 1997 Daily Record 6 May 8:
... I did insist on the big Belfast sink, because I was fed up skiddling around in the wee one that was there before. Sc. 2001 Sunday Herald 4 Feb 4:
Finally after much skiddling about, we work out the correct way and proceed to make a pile of much-praised and quickly wolfed down crepes, complete with lemon juice and sugar. Edb. 2004:
Stoap skiddlin in the soap suds.

2. intr. Of liquid in a container: to splash from side to side, to joggle about (Lnk. 1825 Jam., skytle).

II. n. 1. Any thin insipid or watered-down liquid, gen. used contemptuously for weak tea (wm.Sc. 1970). Phr. a tea skiddle, a tea-party (Id.).Lnk. 1895 J. Nicholson Kilwuddie 166:
That puir, feckless skiddle ca'd tea.Arg. 1930:
She taks naethin' but a skiddle o' tea.

2. A mess, muddle, confusion, freq. implying the spilling of water, etc. (em.Sc.(a), Lth., wm.Sc. 1970); a messy, inept or clumsy person (Ags. 1970).Arg. 1930:
She's aye in a skiddle nae maitter whan ye drap in on her.

3. Contemptuously, of any small trifling thing or concern; an undersized animal, a weakling (Dmf. 1958). Adj. skiddlie, trifling, insignificant (Slg., Lnk. 1970).Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. XI. 327:
An auld woman speaking of a small change-house, called it “a bit skiddle”.