scot

¹ American  

[skot] / skɒt /

noun

History/Historical.

1. a payment or charge.

2. one's share of a payment or charge.

3. an assessment or tax.

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Scot ² American  

[skot] / skɒt /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Scotland.

2. one of an ancient Gaelic people who came from northern Ireland about the 6th century a.d. and settled in the northwestern part of Great Britain, and after whom Scotland was named.

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Scot ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Scots.

2. Scottish.

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Scot. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Scotch.

2. Scotland.

3. Scottish.

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Scot. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Scotch (whisky)

2. Scotland

3. Scottish

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Scot ² British  

/ skɒt /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Scotland

2. a member of a tribe of Celtic raiders from the north of Ireland who carried out periodic attacks against the British mainland coast from the 3rd century _ad , eventually settling in N Britain during the 5th and 6th centuries

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scot Idioms  

1. see get off (scot-free).

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Commonly Confused

See Scotch.

Etymology

Origin of scot¹

1200–50; Middle English < Old Norse skattr tax, treasure; cognate with Old English gescot payment

Origin of Scot²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English Scottas (plural), from Late Latin Scottī “the Irish”

Example Sentences

"If everything is a scandal or an outrage, nothing is, which means that those who deserve to be held to account get off scot free"

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

ULA’s design means large losses may be heavily taxed while big gains go scot free.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2025

I don’t see why Edith must perpetually be punished for her indiscretions when everyone else gets away scot free.

From Slate • Jan. 15, 2013

So either the wrongdoers got off scot free, or the SEC shouldn’t have brought the case it did against the company.

From BusinessWeek • Feb. 10, 2011

And the big yeller dog that had caused all the trouble got off scot free.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson