scaddle

adjective

scad·​dle
variants or less commonly skaddle
ˈskadᵊl
1
dialectal, England : fierce, wild
2
dialectal, England, of an animal : badly behaved : skittish

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier scathel harmful, dangerous, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old High German skadal, skatal harmful, Gothic skathuls, Old English sceathian to injure

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near scaddle

Cite this Entry

“Scaddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scaddle. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!