A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose. [1913 Webster]

A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. [1913 Webster]

A runner (one or two) under some flying machines, used for landing. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

A low movable platform for supporting heavy items to be transported, typically of two layers, and having a space between the layers into which the fork of a fork lift can be inserted; it is used to conveniently transport heavy objects by means of a fork lift; -- a skid without wheels is the same as a pallet. [PJC]

Declining fortunes; a movement toward defeat or downfall; -- used mostly in the phrase on the skids and hit the skids. [PJC]

Act of skidding; -- called also side slip. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Skid, v. t.

To protect or support with a skid or skids; also, to cause to move on skids. [1913 Webster]

To check with a skid, as wagon wheels. Dickens. [1913 Webster]

To haul (logs) to a skid and load on a skidway. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Skid, v. i.

To slide without rotating; -- said of a wheel held from turning while the vehicle moves onward. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

To fail to grip the roadway; specif., to slip sideways on the road; to side-slip; -- said esp. of a cycle or automobile. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Skid, v. & n.
--v. (skidded, skidding)
1 intr. (of a vehicle, a wheel, or a driver) slide on slippery ground, esp. sideways or obliquely.
2 tr. cause (a vehicle etc.) to skid.
3 intr. slip, slide.
4 intr. colloq. fail or decline or err.
5 tr. support or move or protect or check with a skid.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of skidding.
2 a piece of wood etc. serving as a support, ship's fender, inclined plane, etc.
3 a braking device, esp. a wooden or metal shoe preventing a wheel from revolving or used as a drag.
4 a runner beneath an aircraft for use when landing.

Idiom

hit the skids colloq. enter a rapid decline or deterioration. on the skids colloq.
1 about to be discarded or defeated.
2 ready for launching.
put the skids under colloq.
1 hasten the downfall or failure of.
2 cause to hasten. skid-lid sl. a crash-helmet.
skid-pan Brit.
1 a slippery surface prepared for vehicle-drivers to practise control of skidding.
2 a braking device.
skid road US
1 a road for hauling logs along.
2 a part of a town frequented by loggers or vagrants. skid row US a part of a town frequented by vagrants, alcoholics, etc.

Etymology

17th c.: orig. unkn.

top

THESAURUS

Skid
avalanche, bank, coast, crab, dip, drop, edge, fall, feather, fishtail, flit, flow, fly, glide, glissade, glissando, go crabwise, go sideways, ice-skate, landslide, landslip, lateral, lateralize, loop, make leeway, nose-dive, plow, plunge, porpoise, pull out, pull up, push down, roll, roller-skate, sail, sheer, sideslip, sidestep, sidle, skate, skateboard, skew, ski, skim, sled, sleigh, slidder, slide, slide down, slip, slippage, slither, slue, slur, snowslide, snowslip, spin, spiral, stunt, subsidence, sweep, toboggan, tumble, undulate, veer, yaw

top

ROGET THESAURUS

Skid

Hindrance
N hindrance, prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage, embolus, embolism, infarct, interruption, interception, interclusion, hindrance, impedition, retardment, retardation, embarrassment, oppilation, coarctation, stricture, restriction, restraint, inhibition, blockade, interference, interposition, obtrusion, discouragement, discountenance, impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag, check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil, bar, stile, barrier, turnstile, turnpike, gate, portcullis, beaver dam, trocha, barricade, wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne, bulkhead, block, buffer, stopper, boom, dam, weir, burrock, drawback, objection, stumbling-block, stumbling-stone, lion in the path, snag, snags and sawyers, encumbrance, incumbrance, clog, skid, shoe, spoke, drag, drag chain, drag weight, stay, stop, preventive, prophylactic, load, burden, fardel, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta, dead weight, lumber, pack, nightmare, Ephialtes, incubus, old man of the sea, remora, difficulty, insuperable, obstacle, estoppel, ill wind, head wind, trammel, tether, hold back, counterpoise, damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy, party pooper, party crasher, interloper, trail of a red herring, opponent, hindering, obstructive, obstruent, impeditive, impedient, intercipient, prophylactic, impedimentary, in the way of, unfavorable, onerous, burdensome, cumbrous, cumbersome, obtrusive, hindered, windbound, waterlogged, heavy laden, hard pressed, unassisted &c (assist), single-handed, alone, deserted, occurrent nubes.

Support
N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

For further exploring for "Skid" in Webster Dictionary Online