skeeter

Skeeter is a colloquial term for a mosquito, especially in the Southern United States. In addition to its biological sense, skeeter also functions as a nickname or given name in various cultural contexts and can appear in titles or character names in popular media.

Etymology and usage: The origin of skeeter is unclear, but most linguists consider it a regional slang form derived from mosquito or a related dialectal word. The term has been present in American English since the early 20th century and is commonly heard in informal speech and regional dialects. The plural skeeters is used to refer to mosquitoes in general.

In culture and people: Skeeter Phelan is a fictional writer and central character in Kathryn Stockett’s novel The Help (and its 2011 film adaptation). Skeeter also appears as the stage or given name of real and fictional individuals, most notably the American country singer Skeeter Davis, who achieved fame in the mid-20th century. The name is sometimes used as a nickname for people named Skeeter or as a fictional moniker.

Other uses: Skeeter Boats is a brand of bass boats popular with recreational anglers. The term skeeter remains common in everyday speech as a casual reference to mosquitoes, particularly in regions where the word is widely used.

See also: mosquito; skeet.