adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈskɪtɪʃ/
[ˈskɪɾɪʃ]T-flapping
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪtɪʃ
CMU ARPABET:S K IH1 T IH0 SH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Easily scared or startled; timid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The dog likes people he knows, but he is skittish around strangers.
1557, Roger Edgeworth, Sermons Very Fruitfull, Godly, and Learned, London: Robert Caly, The fiftenth treatice or Sermon, All such be like a skittish starting horse, whiche coming ouer a bridge, wil start for a shadowe, or for a stone lying by him, and leapeth ouer on the other side into the water, & drowneth both horse and man.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Wanton; changeable; fickle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Difficult to manage; tricky.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: flighty, spooky, nervous
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Probably from skite (“to move lightly and hurriedly; to move suddenly, particularly in an oblique direction (Scotland, Northern England)”) + -ish; compare skitter.
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
