Etymology
The sense and etymology of this
hapax legomenon at
WA 4200 are unclear. Commentators are either silent on the word (e.g. Skeat WA) or look to ON for an etymon that would allow for a plausible gloss in the context of a description of
neddirs 'adders', comparing OIcel
skjóta 'shoot, push, shove', and the related verbs ult. derived on it (rare poetic)
skota 'shove' and
skúta 'jut out'. Although they would account for the absence of initial palatalization, none of these words explains the vocalism of the ME form, and thus
MED reconstructs an ablaut variant
*skauta (and also notes the past sg. form of st. II
skjóta is
skaut), but this is entirely speculative. Otherwise there is only a n. derived on
*skeutan- with the requisite vocalism, PGmc
*skaut-, cp. Go
skaut(s) 'hem, edge, fringe', OE
scēat 'corner, angle, edge, point, promontory', OIcel
skaut 'corner, flap, sheet', OFris
skāt 'coattail, skirt', MLG
schōt, MHG
schōz. TPD (4329n) offer two possible glosses based on a connection with the ON verbs: (1) 'squirting (venom)' comparing the Scots
scout (
OED s.v.
scoot) 'eject, jerk, squirt' of MnE
scoot (first attested in the 19c.); and (2) 'jutting out (ready to strike)', comparing
scutis (v.).
PGmc Ancestor
?*skeutan-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
cp. skjóta 'shoot, push, shove', skota 'shove', skúta 'jut out'
(ONP cp. skjóta (vb.), skúta (3)(vb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
OE Cognate
cp. scēotan 'shoot', scotian 'move rapidly, shoot'
Phonological and morphological markers
[absence of palatalization of */sk/]
(may not be applicable)
[ON /au/ < PGmc */au/]
(may not be applicable)
Summary category
DD1c