Leslie Massey
In Australia, a skid can refer to a few different things. In the context of car culture, a shed skid is a smoky burnout performed in a confined space, such as a garage or driveway. This practice is popular in Australia, where strict laws and social intolerance make it difficult to perform burnouts on public streets. The term skid can also refer to a type of pallet used for storing and supporting goods, particularly heavy equipment that needs to be moved regularly. In slang, a skid can refer to a person who is rebellious, involved with drugs and alcohol, and struggles with hygiene and cleanliness. This term is used in various regions, including Australia, and may be derived from the term Skid Row, referring to the industrial districts where homeless people lived.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Term Origin | Skid is a term derived from "Skid Row", referring to the industrial districts of big cities where homeless people lived and slept on palettes or skids used for transporting goods. |
| Australian Usage | In Australia, "shed skids" refer to a car culture phenomenon where car enthusiasts perform smoky burnouts in their garages, leaving permanent black rubber marks on the floor. This is due to the strict regulations against performing burnouts on public streets. |
| Social Stigma | Skids are associated with negative stereotypes, including poor hygiene, rebelliousness, involvement with drugs and alcohol, and financial problems. They are often portrayed as less successful individuals who struggle to find jobs and exhibit rebellious or antisocial behavior. |
| Fashion | The male skid fashion often includes white wife-beaters, baggy jerseys, and jeans. Female skids may dress very slutty or sloppy, with short dresses or ripped sweatpants. |
| Education | Skids are typically disinterested in school and may have attendance issues or attend under the influence of substances. |
| Transportation | Skids are known to drive rusty old vehicles. |
| Social Behavior | Skids tend to travel in packs and are often unwelcome at parties hosted by "normal people". |
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What You'll Learn
'Shed skids' and Australian car culture
In Australia, "shed skids" are a part of car culture. This involves car enthusiasts performing "burnouts" or "skid chucking" in their garages or on their driveways, leaving huge, permanent black rubber marks on the floor. It is considered a silly part of Australian car culture, but it is also a way for car enthusiasts to get their fix in a country with strict laws against performing burnouts on public streets. Australians are known for their love of powerful cars and their skill in lighting up the rear tires, also known as doing a "broadie".
The "shed skid" is also related to another concept called the "shed crawl," where people spend a whole day driving or walking from one garage to another, checking out the garage owner's car projects and workspace setup, and perhaps enjoying a beer. While the shed crawl is not as popular as the shed skid, it is another unique aspect of Australian car culture that showcases the creativity and passion of Australian car enthusiasts.
The strict laws and heavy-handedness of Australian authorities on street skids have led to the creation of organised burnout competitions, which are considered some of the greatest in the world. These competitions provide a legal outlet for car enthusiasts to showcase their skills and their powerful cars. The tension between the desire to perform burnouts and the strict laws against them has resulted in a vibrant and innovative car culture in Australia, with enthusiasts always finding a way to pursue their passion.
The term "chucking a skid" is commonly used in Australia to refer to performing massive burnouts, and it is a source of pride for many Australians. The unique terminology and practices associated with shed skids and car culture in Australia showcase the country's distinct automotive community and its dedication to pushing the limits of their vehicles, even if it reduces the mechanical efficiency of their engines to zero.
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Skid vs pallet
Although the terms "pallet" and "skid" are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. The two platforms differ in design and usage, each being better suited to different situations.
A pallet is a constructed device used to put goods on for transport. It has top and bottom deck boards connected by three or four stringers that hold up the deck boards. The bottom deck makes pallet stacking easy and provides increased stability and sturdiness. Pallets are ideal when enhanced strength and stability are needed to support or store a load. The double-deck design and stringers allow the pallet to support more weight without collapsing, especially when the weight is unevenly spread across the deck. The additional resistance of a pallet makes it less likely that the load and the pallet will slip or slide. Pallets are also designed to be picked up by a range of machinery, including forklifts, which means they can be stored fully loaded at height. Pallets are the most common goods support platform today and are used as the industry standard in the freight industry.
A skid, on the other hand, has a single loading platform with only top deck boards that rest on the ground or floor on their stringers. Skids are ideal for use as a permanent foundation for heavy machinery, keeping them off the ground or floor. Skids are also useful for storing and supporting heavy equipment that is moved regularly as they can be easily dragged or hauled across difficult or uneven terrain such as sand. The absence of the bottom deck makes the skid cheaper than the pallet and easier to move around due to less friction. Skids are also more compact and can be stored easily when nested.
In summary, pallets offer more stability and strength and are ideal for stacking and storing loaded freight. Skids, on the other hand, are more mobile and cheaper but lack the stability of pallets, especially when used with forklifts.
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Etymology of 'skid'
The word "skid" has a complex etymology, with its meaning evolving over time and varying across different parts of the world.
Early Origins
The earliest recorded origins of the word "skid" can be traced back to the Middle English word "skid", which referred to a "low-cut covering for the human foot" and is derived from the Old English word "scoh", with potential Proto-Germanic roots in the word "*skokhaz*".
Old Norse Influence
By the 1600s, the word "skid" took on a new meaning, referring to a "beam, log, or plank on which something rests" or is rolled from place to place. This definition is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word "skíð", meaning "stick of wood, beam, or plank". This Old Norse term is also related to the Norwegian word "ski", which refers to long, slender boards fastened to the feet for gliding over snow.
Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European Roots
The Old Norse "skíð" is further traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "*skīdą*", meaning "log or clapboard", and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European roots "*skey-t-*" and "*skey-", meaning "to split, divide, or separate". This evolution reflects the word's association with pieces of wood or timber used for support or transportation.
Usage in Aviation and Vehicle Contexts
Over time, the word "skid" expanded its meaning to encompass the concept of sliding or gliding. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, "skid" was used to describe the act of sliding or slipping sideways, particularly in vehicle contexts. This usage may be related to Middle English and Old English terms like "sliden" and "slidan", which refer to gliding, slipping, or falling.
In aviation, "skid" refers to ski-shaped runners or supporting surfaces used in place of wheels, especially for landing on snow and ice.
Cultural Variations and Figurative Usage
The word "skid" has also found its way into figurative expressions, such as "hit the skids" to describe a rapid decline, and the well-known term "skid row" for a disreputable or undesirable part of town. These figurative usages are often associated with the idea of downhill motion or a decline in status or quality.
In certain regions, like the west coast of North America, "skids" has been used as a derogatory term for street people or those living in downtrodden areas, possibly influenced by the presence of skid roads or logging structures in historical logging towns.
In summary, the etymology of "skid" reflects a diverse range of influences, from Scandinavian and Germanic roots to the evolution of figurative expressions, showcasing the dynamic nature of language and its adaptation to various cultural contexts.
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'Skid' as slang for a person
In slang, a "skid" is a term for a person who isn't quite a bum but is not successful either. Skids are often seen wearing an FXR jacket or Ecko sweatshirt. They usually graduated from high school via some sort of work placement program. They often smoke cigarettes, drive a rusty old vehicle, have an illegitimate child, and are in between jobs. Skids also struggle with hygiene and keeping themselves clean. They are one step up from a hobo and tend to steal things for money. They are rebellious and like to start unnecessary fights, which makes it difficult for them to find jobs. Skids tend to travel in packs of 5-6 and carry many STIs.
The term "skid" can also refer to someone who doesn't wipe their bottom properly after defecating, leading to skid marks on their underwear. This usage is reflected in phrases such as "Do you smell that? It smells like shit! Did you just shit your pants? Nope, I don't smell anything. SKIDS!".
In the context of computing, a "skid" or "script kiddie" refers to someone who has downloaded scripts from the internet and believes they are a skilled hacker. This usage is often associated with negative connotations, implying that the person is immature or unskilled.
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'Skid' as a bike trick
In Australia, the term "skid" is used to describe a bike trick where the rider performs a sudden stop, leaving a skid mark on the ground. This trick is often done on gravel or dirt surfaces, where riders would build up speed and then suddenly smash the back pedal brake, leaving a skid mark.
To perform a skid on a bike, there are a few techniques to master. One method involves waiting for your dominant foot to come to the front, just before the horizontal position of the crankset. This is the ideal pedal position for initiating a skid. Once you've identified this point, you need to coordinate two actions simultaneously. First, shift your weight forward, towards the front of the bike, as this will make it easier to block the rear wheel. The recommended position is to have your "crotch on the stem." Second, pull the front pedal backward with your dominant foot while pushing the back pedal down with your non-dominant foot. It's important to really crank backward on the pedals to block them effectively.
Practicing on a smoother surface, such as sand, can be helpful when learning to skid. Once you've mastered the basic technique, you can experiment with adjusting your weight distribution to control the amount of braking. Additionally, it's worth noting that skidding can be performed without straps, but this technique relies heavily on precise timing and positioning on the bike.
While the term "skid" is commonly used in Australia to describe this bike trick, there are various colloquial terms used across different regions. Some of these include "broggies," "skiddies," "broadie," and "broadside." The act of performing a skid on a bike brings back fond memories for many Australians, reminding them of their childhood adventures and the fun they had riding their bikes and leaving skid marks, often referred to in humorous ways to avoid any association with the less desirable skid marks one might leave in their underwear.
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Frequently asked questions
A "skid" in Australia refers to a “shed skid”, a part of Australian car culture where people perform smoky burnouts in their garages or on their driveways.
The term "shed skid" comes from the fact that these burnouts are performed in sheds or garages, as opposed to on public streets, due to strict law enforcement in Australia.
A "shed crawl" involves people spending a day walking or driving from one garage to another, socialising, drinking beer, and looking at car projects and workspaces.
The term "skid" may have originated from the homeless people who lived in industrial districts and slept on palettes or skids used for transporting goods, which led to the term “Skid Row".
In the context of people, the term "skid" is often used to describe an individual who is rebellious, involved with drugs and alcohol, and has poor hygiene and financial problems.
