scat

¹

[skat]

verb (used without object)

Informal.

scatted, scatting 

1. to go off hastily (often used in the imperative).

scat

²

[skat]

verb (used without object)

scatted, scatting 

1. to sing by making full or partial use of the technique of scat singing, in which the singer substitutes improvised nonsense syllables for the words of a song.

noun

1. scat singing.

scat

³

[skat]

noun

1. the excrement of a wild animal.

scat

⁴

[skat]

noun

Slang.

1. heroin.

scat

⁵

Or scatt

[skat]

noun

1. (in the Shetland and Orkney Islands) a crown tax, as for use of common lands.

scat-

⁶

1. variant of scato- before a vowel.

scat

¹

/ skæt /

noun

1. a type of jazz singing characterized by improvised vocal sounds instead of words

verb

1. (intr) to sing jazz in this way

scat

²

/ skæt /

verb

1. informal,  (intr; usually imperative) to go away in haste

scat

³

/ skæt /

noun

1. any marine and freshwater percoid fish of the Asian family Scatophagidae, esp Scatophagus argus, which has a beautiful coloration

scat

⁴

/ skæt /

noun

1. an animal dropping

Word History and Origins

Origin of scat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; of uncertain origin

Origin of scat²

First recorded in 1925–30; of uncertain origin

Origin of scat³

First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain; compare British dialect (southwestern) scat “to scatter, fling down, bespatter”; Greek skat- (stem of skôr “dung”; scato- ) is an unlikely source, given popular character of the word and unmotivated derivation pattern

Origin of scat⁴

First recorded in 1945–50; of uncertain origin; compare earlier scat (slang) “whiskey”

Origin of scat⁵

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse skattr “tax, treasure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scat¹

C20: perhaps imitative

Origin of scat²

C19: perhaps from a hiss + the word cat, used to frighten away cats

Origin of scat³

C20: shortened from Scatophagus; see _scato-

Origin of scat⁴

C20: see _scato-

Example Sentences

The first rule of ZAZ-style comedy is that you can’t ever appear like you’re in on the joke, which Anderson edges close to once when she breaks into a scatting jazz number.

From Los Angeles Times

Newly christened, she became known for scat singing, a vocal style that originated with ragtime - which enabled her to improvise melodies using her voice as an instrument.

From BBC

He took out his gun and burst into the house, where he was greeted by a giant pile of bear scat.

From Los Angeles Times

“It doesn’t really make sense. You just have to kind of follow the sound. I still remember the reception that I got from it. Angela Jackson said, ‘You’re scatting on the page.’

From Los Angeles Times

For music, the show has an original score by the veteran trombonist Craig Harris, played by a jazz band that includes three vocalists who do sometimes scat.

From New York Times