scat

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈskat 

scatted; scatting

intransitive verb

1

: to go away quickly

2

: to move fast : scoot

scat

2 of 5

noun (1)

: animal fecal droppings

For many animals, particularly predatory ones, scat is a calling card that marks territory and leaves information.

—Terri Schlichenmeyer

scat

3 of 5

noun (2)

: jazz singing with nonsense syllables

scat

4 of 5

verb (2)

scatted; scatting

intransitive verb

: to improvise nonsense syllables usually to an instrumental accompaniment : sing scat

SCAT

5 of 5

abbreviation

1

School and College Ability Test

2

supersonic commercial air transport

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• dirt
• doo-doo
• dropping
• dung
• excrement
• excreta
• feces
• ordure
• poop
• slops
• soil
• waste

Examples of scat in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a tracker who could identify any animal from its scat alone

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The film directed by Mike Roth is clearly a labor of love for all concerned, with enough Easter eggs and in-jokes to please even the most ardent Batman enthusiasts, including one referencing George Clooney’s nipple-featuring Batsuit and Bruce and Damian happily scatting the Batman TV show theme. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2023

The site noted, however, that Bono seemed to be improvising or scatting in spots, indicating that the lyrics might still be subject to change. —Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2023

Noun

Winters is leading the field work on the ecology side, which involves deploying a massive camera trap grid in areas where wolf packs reside in addition to collecting scat and investigating areas where the predators have spent a certain amount of time. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024

Plate-sized globs of bear scat lay everywhere, and the bruins’ beds cratered the forest floor. —Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

scat, interjection used to drive away a cat

Noun (1)

perhaps from Greek skat-, skōr excrement — more at scatology

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1929, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1935, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scat

1 of 4 verb

ˈskat 

scatted; scatting

1

: to go away quickly

—often used to drive away an animal (as a cat)

2

: to move fast : scoot

scat

2 of 4 noun

: the feces deposited by an animal

bear scat

scat

3 of 4 noun

: jazz singing with meaningless syllables

scat

4 of 4 verb

scatted; scatting

: to sing by making up meaningless syllables to go with the music