Scoot
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "scoot" means to move or shift a little, often to make room for someone or something. It can also mean to move quickly, but the friendly, space-making sense is the one most heard in the South.
synonyms: move over, slide, shift, budge
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear 'scoot' often out in the country, and it doesn't have anything to do with moving fast. Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear 'scoot' often out in the country, and it doesn't have anything to do with moving fast. Pronunciation
[SKOOT]
/skuːt/
/skuːt/
Meaning & Usage
- To move or slide a short distance (verb)
Mae:
Scoot over so I can sit.
Scoot over so I can sit.
Earl:
Alright, I’m scootin’.
Alright, I’m scootin’.variations: scoot over, scoot on over, scoot up, scoot back
Origin and Etymology
Derived from older English and Scots words meaning "to move suddenly or dart." The term spread across America, but in the South and Appalachia it came to mean simply "shift over" or "make room," often used in a warm, domestic tone.
Usage Notes
- Scoot over - to move aside and make space for another.
- Scoot on over - a distinctly Southern phrasing, polite and friendly.
- Scoot up / back - to adjust position at a table, in a pew, or in a truck seat.
- Elsewhere, "scoot" may imply speed; in the South, it’s about courtesy and comfort.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 16). Scoot. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/scoot
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Scoot." HillbillySlang.com, 16 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/scoot.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Scoot." HillbillySlang.com. October 16, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/scoot.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...