skid [E17th] This was first used in the sense ‘supporting beam’; it may be related to Old Norse skíth ‘billet, snowshoe’ (which also gave English ski in the mid 18th century via Norwegian). The verb was first used meaning ‘fasten a skid to (a wheel) to slow its motion’, later coming to mean ‘slip’. To hit the skids [E20th], ‘to begin a rapid decline or deterioration’, and the similar to put the skids under someone or something both originated in the USA. This skid is a North American term for a wooden roller that is used as part of a set to move logs or other heavy objects. Once a log is on the skids it can be slid forward very easily, gathering momentum until it reaches the end of the rollers and comes to an abrupt halt. Skid row [M20th], meaning ‘a run-down part of town frequented by tramps and alcoholics’, is also connected with logging. It originated as skid road in the late 19th century, and at first simply described a part of town frequented by loggers.