Dear Yahoo!:
How did the term “scott free” come about?
Michelle
Niagra Falls, Ontario
Dear Michelle:
First off, let’s set the record straight on the expression itself — it’s actually “scot-free.” And contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with Dred Scott or the Scottish.Sceot is the Old English for “a tax.” Scot and lot was a medieval muncipal tax levied on residents. Someone who managed to avoid paying this medieval tax got off “scot free.”
Eventually, the word evolved to describe getting away without any kind of punishment, fiscal or otherwise. Kids who fake fevers get out of school scot-free. Cagey adults escape jury duty scot-free. And dogs with remorseful eyes get off scot-free from just about any wrongdoing.
Sometimes you don’t even have to try and you still learn something new each day… I was checking my gmail and this was linked at the top. And here I thought it did have something to do with the scots.
Tags: History, Interesting
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