scad n also scat, skad [phonetics unavailable]. EDD -sb1 'sudden and brief shower of rain' So D; scat sb2 1 w cty (1790-); cp OED scud sb1 2 b (1687-).
1 Flurry, snow-shower; DWY.
1910 Nfld Qtly Dec, p. 30 The evening was calm, and there was a light scad of snow falling. 1924 ENGLAND 225 Came 'scats o' snow' when the fog fanned away and all grew sheeted with blowing drifts. 1933 GREENE 230-1 The heavy 'scats' of snow-crystals that now are occasionally sweeping over the Floe, so sting all faces in the gusts with the temperature rapidly failing, that ear-flaps are pulled down on every cap. P 148-66 Is this the first snow? We had a little scad. P 111-67 Sheila's brush, a scad of snow on March 18, is called after St Sheila. 1973 Evening Telegram 29 Dec, p. 4 I was looking out of my office window on Duckworth Street recently when the first scad of December snow suddenly covered the ground.
2 Thin layer of snow on the ground.
1897 J A Folklore x, 209 Skad of snow, a fall of a few inches covering the ground. 1907 MILLAIS 339 Scat of snow, just a light fall. 1925 Dial Notes v, 340 ~ a light, thin coating of snow. P 118-66 A light fall of snow is referred to as a scad. P 13-74 ~ up to an inch in depth. A hunter might wish for a scad of snow to cover up the old tracks.
