Dictionary

absquatulate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /æbzˈkwɑt͡ʃ.ʊ.leɪt/
• /æbˈskwɑt͡ʃ.ʊ.leɪt/
• /æbzˈkwɑt͡ʃ.ə.leɪt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Italic *ap Latin abder. Latin abs- Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tder. Proto-Italic *-ðō Latin -dō Latin condō Latin abscondōder. Middle French abscondrebor. ▲ Latin abscondōbor. English abscond Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Latin ex- Old French es- ▲ Latin co- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin cōgō Latin coāctusder. Old French quatir Old French esquatirder. Middle English squatten English squat Proto-Indo-European *per-der. Proto-Italic *peri- Latin per- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰíder. Proto-Italic *amβi- Latin ambi- Proto-Indo-European *h₂elh₂-der. Proto-Italic *alō Latin *alō Latin ambulō Latin perambulō Latin perambulātusbor. English perambulate blend English absquatulate Attested since the 1830s in American English, a jocular mock-Latin word. Blend of abscond + squat + perambulate, as ab- (“away (from)”) (as in abscond) + squat + *-ulate (as in perambulate, properly -ate), hence meaning “get up (from a squat) and depart (quickly)”. The middle portion was perhaps influenced by -le (“(frequentative)”) and the dialectal term squattle (“depart”); compare contemporary skedaddle.

Meanings

1. (intransitive, slang) To leave quickly or in a hurry; to depart, flee.
   • Why, I expect in a year or two to see coffins introduced into the parlors of the Fifth Avenue, and to find them, when their owners fail or absquatulate, advertised for sale at auction, with the rest of the household furniture, at a great sacrifice on the original cost. 1860 September, “A Day with the Dead”, in The Atlantic Monthly, volume 6, number 35:
   • Whilst I was looking for the books, Lord Orville came in. He looked uncommonly down in the mouth, as he said: ‘Is this true, Miss Anville; are you going to cut?‘ ‘To absquatulate, Lord Orville,’ said I, still pretending that I was looking for the books. 1863, William Makepeace Thackeray, Roundabout Papers:
   • "[…]Now I see you again—I’m satisfied. I’m satisfied completely. See? I’m going to absquatulate, see? Hey Presto right away.” He turned to his tea for a moment, finished his cup noisily, stood up. 1910, H. G. Wells, The history of Mr. Polly:
   • Even within the past year, several Land Officers and keepers of public monies--the Collector of New Orleans and Plattsburg--the Post Masters of Mobile and Worcester have made serious and prominent additions to the long catalogue of absquatulating defaulters. 1840 January 9, “The President's Message, No. 2”, in Lincoln Telegraph, volume IV, number 41, Bath, Maine, page 3:

Forms

Deriveds

absquatulation · absquatulator · abscotchalater

Synonyms

leave · skedaddle (leave quickly) · abscond (leave quickly) · vamoose (leave quickly) · decamp (leave quickly)

Translations (22)

pt pisgar-se (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · de fortlaufen (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · de fliehen (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · pt dar o fora (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · nl er vanonder muizen (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · cs zdejchnout se (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · sv dra (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · sv smita (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · ja 逃げる (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · bg вдигам гълъбите (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · nl wegwezen (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · fi livistää (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · pl zwiewać (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · ko 종적을 감추다 (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · nl er vanonder trekken (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · ko 뺑소니치다 (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · pt pirar-se (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · nl zijn biezen pakken (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · sv dunsta (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · sv fly (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · nl 'm smeren (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart) · de davonmachen (to leave quickly or in a hurry; to take oneself off; to decamp; to depart)

wikipedia: Michael Quinion