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. 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.
[ 17th c.: orig. unkn. ]