skid

/skɪd/

/skɪd/

Other forms: skidded; skids; skidding

Whoopsy daisy! Those new fuzzy socks make it easy to skid, or slide unexpectedly, across the wood floor.

Does skid sound Scandinavian? Because that's where etymologists think the word came from. It makes sense, since there's all that ice up there. The Vikings were most likely skidding around way before snow tires and anti-lock brakes came about to stop all the slippery fun. But a skid that gets out of control is never any good — that's why when someone's life slides into the dumps, you can say they "hit the skids."

Definitions of skid

1. noun

   one of a pair of planks used to make a track for rolling or sliding objects
   type of:

   board, plank

   a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes
2. noun

   a restraint provided when the brake linings are moved hydraulically against the brake drum to retard the wheel's rotation
   synonyms: brake shoe, shoe

   type of:

   constraint, restraint

   a device that impede's something's motion
3. noun

   an unexpected slide
   synonyms: sideslip, slip

   type of:

   coast, glide, slide

   the act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it
4. verb

   move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
   “the wheels skidded against the sidewalk”

   synonyms: slew, slide, slip, slue

   types:

   submarine

   move forward or under in a sliding motion

   side-slip

   slide sideways through the air in a downward direction in an airplane along an inclined lateral axis

   type of:

   glide

   move smoothly and effortlessly
5. verb

   slide without control
   “the car skidded in the curve on the wet road”

   type of:

   slew, slide, slip, slue

   move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
6. verb

   apply a brake or skid to
   type of:

   brake

   cause to stop by applying the brakes
7. verb

   elevate onto skids
   type of:

   bring up, elevate, get up, lift, raise

   raise from a lower to a higher position