Beskidt

Beskidt is an adjective in Danish used to describe something as dirty, filthy, or covered in dirt. It can refer to a tangible condition, such as a surface, clothing, or a person after exposure to mud, as in beskidt tøj (dirty clothes) or beskidt gulv (dirty floor). The term can also be used figuratively to indicate moral stain or reputational impurity, for example i beskidt ryge or a beskidt forretning (a dirty deal).

Etymology and related forms: The word is built from the noun skidt, meaning dirt or filth, with the prefix be-, which in Danish often marks a state or result. This construction exists in other Scandinavian languages as well, though exact forms and frequency vary across languages and dialects.

Usage notes: Beskidt is a vivid, informal term that carries a strong image. It is common in everyday speech and in descriptive writing when a sharp, concrete depiction is desired. In more formal or polite contexts, speakers might opt for milder or more neutral terms such as urent, urenset, or besudlet, depending on whether the reference is physical dirt or moral taint.

See also: skidt, dirt, filth, besudlet, urent.