skid / skid/ • v. (skid·ded, skid·ding) 1. [intr.] (of a vehicle) slide, typically sideways or obliquely, on slippery ground or as a result of stopping or turning too quickly: the taxicab skidded to a halt. ∎  slip; slide: Barbara's foot skidded, and she fell to the floor. ∎  [tr.] cause to skid: he skidded his car. ∎  [tr.] move a heavy object on skids: they skidded the logs down the hill to the waterfront. ∎ fig. decline; deteriorate: its shares have skidded 29% since March.2. [tr.] fasten a skid to (a wheel) as a brake.• n. 1. an act of skidding or sliding: the Volvo went into a skid.2. a runner attached to the underside of an aircraft for use when landing on snow or grass. ∎  each of a set of wooden rollers used for moving a log or other heavy object.3. a braking device consisting of a wooden or metal shoe preventing a wheel from revolving.4. a beam or plank used to support a ship under construction or repair.PHRASES: hit the skids inf. begin a rapid decline or deterioration.on the skids inf. (of a person or their career) in a bad state; failing.put the skids under inf. hasten the decline or failure of.

skid supporting timber XVII; wooden fender; wheel-locking device XVIII. of unkn. orig., but in form and sense resembling ON. skíð (see SKI).
Hence skid vb. lock (a wheel) with a skid XVII; (of a wheel) be dragged along by having a skid applied; slip sideways XIX.

skid (skɪd) Med. see SCID