Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “skedaddler” come from?

skedaddler (English) comes from English skedaddle, from English scaddle, from Middle English scathel, from Old English sceaþol, from Proto-Germanic skaþulaz, from Proto-Germanic skaþōną, from Proto-Germanic skaþô, from Proto-Indo-European sket- — to injure.

skedaddler (English): A draft dodger

Definitions

  1. A draft dodger

Ancestry of “skedaddler”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishskedaddleTo move or run away quickly; To spill; to...
2EnglishscaddleAlternative form of scathel; Alternative form of...
3Middle Englishscathelharmful
4Old Englishsceaþol—
5Proto-Germanicskaþulaztending to cause harm, harmful
6Proto-Germanicskaþōnąto injure, harm, damage
7Proto-Germanicskaþôdamage, scathe; one who causes damage; injurer
8Proto-Indo-Europeansket-to injure
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sket- →