interjection
scat
SKAT/skˈæt/
A command telling someone or an animal to go away.
Scat, the man calls, waving the cat away from the doorway!
Etymology
The command is traced through “quicker than s’cat,” meaning “in a great hurry.” It probably represents a hiss followed by “cat,” fitting its usual use to send a small animal away.
In context
the cat kept walking scat cat said the duck
More examples
- "Scat!" I yell at the squirrel digging in my garden.
- "Scat!" Dad tells us when we sneak into the kitchen.
- The dog ignores me when I say "scat."
Similar words
- shoo
- Often directs animals away while accompanying a wave of the hand.
- scram
- Usually tells a person, rather than an animal, to leave abruptly.