skitter
/ˈskɪtə
/(also skeeter /ˈskiːtə/)
verb
1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] Move lightly and quickly or hurriedly: the girls skittered up the stairs figurative her mind skittered back to that day at the office...
- Her eyes widened further, and she backed, more quickly than before, skittering quickly against the walls and door.
- I was about to protest, but Alex quickly skittered off to the bathroom, leaving me stupidly holding the silver phone in my hand.
- She nodded quickly and skittered over to her seat.
2 [with object] Draw (bait) jerkily across the surface of the water as a technique in fishing.
Origin
Mid 19th century: apparently a frequentative of skite.
Rhymes
- rose-colored vervain
- rose colour
- rose-coloured
- rose-coloured cockatoo
- rose-coloured pastor
- rose-coloured spoonbill
- rose-coloured starling
- rose-coloured vervain
- rose comb
- rose-combed
- rose copper
- rose cross
- rose-cut
- rose diagram
- rose diamond
- rose drop
- rose du Barry
- rose ear
- rose engine
- rose-engine lathe
- rose-eyed
- rose fever
- rosefinch
- rose-fingered
- rosefish