*skit*

n. [ From von Perovski, of St.Petersburg. ] (Min.) Same as Perovskite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From von Perovski, of St. Petersburg. ] (Min.) A titanate of lime occurring in octahedral or cubic crystals. [ Written also Perofskite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ After Samarski, a Russian. ] (Min.) A rare mineral having a velvet-black color and submetallic luster. It is a niobate of uranium, iron, and the yttrium and cerium metals. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Prov. E. skitto slide, as adj., hasty, precipitate, of Scand. origin, and akin to E. shoot, v.t.; cf. Icel. skyti, skytja, skytta, a marksman, shooter, skjōta to shoot, skūta a taunt. √159. See Shoot. ] To cast reflections on; to asperse. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] Crose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a sally; a brief satire; a squib. Tooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

A similar vein satire upon the emptiness of writers is given in his “Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Human Mind;” but that is a mere skit compared with this strange performance. Leslie Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A wanton girl; a light wench. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A short theatrical presentation, often comical or satirical. Comical skits are sometimes presented by amateur or ad hoc groups at parties, dinners, or other social gatherings. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ Cf. Skit, v. t. ] To move or pass (something) over a surface quickly so that it touches only at intervals; to skip.

The angler, standing in the bow, 'skitters' or skips the spoon over the surface. James A. Henshall. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. To pass or glide lightly or with quick touches at intervals; to skip; to skim.

Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a feet before settling down. T. Roosevelt. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ See Skit, v. t. ] 1. Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a skittish colt. “A restiff, skittish jade.” L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle. “Skittish Fortune's hall.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Skit"tish*ly, adv. -- Skit"tish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the game of skittles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Skittle alley, an alley or court in which the game of skittles is played. --
Skittle ball, a disk or flattish ball of wood for throwing at the pins in the game of skittles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The piked dogfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Of Scand. origin. √159. See Shoot, v. t., and cf. Shuttle, Skit, v. t. ] An English game resembling ninepins, but played by throwing wooden disks, instead of rolling balls, at the pins. [ 1913 Webster ]