skitter
Merriam-Webster says:
a : to glide or skip lightly or quickly b : to move in or as in a jittery or jerky way.
It also lists a second definition: to twitch the hook of a fishing line through or along the surface of water. I didn't know that. Learned something new today.
Value:
This is one of my first WCW posts, and I'm going to peg this as a five cent word. I could see it being used two or three times over the course of a scene. More if it's the single most accurate verb you have for the movement in question.
More specific than:
Run (a penny word). Way more specific than move (also a penny word). Of the a and b definitions above, I use b.
Word relationships:
I associate this with small critters that need to move fast while dodging predators. Skitter has implications of seeking a place to hide, too. Nervousness, maybe. Also, objects moving with energy and randomness. The pitcher crashed down and shards skittered across the floor. It's related to skittish, as in nervous and agitated and perhaps inclined to skitter. Jitter as a verb indicating small, random movements with an element of vibration. Skitter doesn't include vibration. And jittering can be done in place, while skittering crosses a distance.
What comes to your mind?
1 comment:
Great first word post and thanks for starting with a five cent word. Skitter is good. I imagine spiders though I don't know why.
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