subs. (GROSE).—1. A jest, a satire: also as verb. (GROSE) = ‘to wheedle.’
1779. HANNAH COWLEY, Who’s the Dupe? ii. 2. Doil. Ignorant!—Come, come, none of your tricks upon travellers. I thought you meant all that as a SKIT upon my edication.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxii. But if he really shot young Hazlewood—But I canna think it, Mr. Glossin; this will be some o’ your SKITS [tricks] now—I canna think it o’ sae douce a lad;—na, na, this is just some o’ your old SKITS.—Ye’ll be for having a horning or a caption after him.
1884. Graphic, 20 Sept., 299, 1. When will be produced the new Gilbert-Sullivan opera, which is reported to be a SKIT on “Thought-reading.”
1885. Daily News, 28 Sept. Of these many are SKITS at the expense of that unfailing object of Thackeray’s love of banter.
2. subs. (old).—A wanton: see TART.
1620. H. HOWARD, Defensative against the Poison of Supposed Prophecies. [Herod] at the request of a dancing SKIT stroke off the head of St. John the Baptist.
