Skippings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A light, quick movement in which one hops or bounds skippingly while avoiding obstacles or engaging in play
2. The act of moving in a lively, buoyant manner, often characterized by a rhythmic or bouncing step
3. An informal term for brief, carefree excursions that involve playful hopping or bouncing steps

Etymology: "Skippings" is simply the plural of "skipping," so it names more than one instance of the same activity: a series of light, bouncing hops or brief outings. The source itself offers nothing beyond that relationship, so the history of the noun lies in "skipping." Because the plural adds no new meaning, the useful question is how the base word came to mean a light, bouncing step. "Skipping" is the form of "skip," the verb that describes a quick, springy leap, and the same verb carries the sense of moving lightly from one place to another without following a straight path. The noun forms of this family all trace back to that single image of a sudden, playful bound.

Synonyms: hoppings, leaps, jumps, bounds

Antonyms: stoppings, halts