Dictionary

scot en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /skɒt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English scot, scott, from Old English sċot, sċott, sċeot, ġesċot (“contribution; payment; tax; fine”), cognate with Old Norse skot, from Proto-Germanic *skutą (“that which is thrown or cast; projectile; missile”), related to English shoot. Later influenced by Old French escot (Modern écot), itself of Germanic origin. Doublet of shot.

Meanings

1. (UK, historical) A local tax, paid originally to the lord or ruler and later to a sheriff.

Forms

Deriveds

Rome-scot · scot and lot · scotale · scot-free

Relateds

churchscot · lightscot · escot · shout · shot · scot-free

scot en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /skɒt/
• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (obsolete, slang) A fury; a fit of temper.
   • The black fellows were in a very savage mood. […] Mr. Lawson, having heard that the up-creek blacks were "in a scot," and fearing that the youngsters might fall into their hands, had then started with his little party in pursuit. 1869, Richard Rowe, The Boy in the Bush:

Forms