DCHP-2

skid ((n.)) Lumbering DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

• 1a n.

  one of two or more long poles or logs, often notched or spiked, used as a ramp for raising logs onto a skidway (def. 2a), a sleigh, etc.

  See also: skidder (def. 1)  skidway (def. 2a)  

  • 1889  The logs are loaded on the sleds by being rolled up an inclined plane formed by a pair of "skids". . . .
  • 1943  Two . . . skids, one on each side of the pile are placed at a convenient angle, and the logs are rolled or pushed up them by hand.
  • 1966  The trees had to be . . . cut into log length and peeled, then skidded in with the team. I rigged up a set of lines and skids to roll them up, one on top of the other, each one notched into the one beneath it

• 1b n. —

  one of two or more long poles or logs, often peeled, placed against a bank or hillside and used as a runway for rolling logs to a beach or booming ground.

  See also: beach  booming ground ((1))  

  • 1902  (1957)  . . . teamsters bringing forward their peeled skids gave evidence of the effort yet to come before the monster [a mast] would begin his head-long rush for the landing berth. . . .
  • 1924  In fact, if possible, the logs ought to run down [to the river] on skids.

• 1c n.

  one of several long poles or logs forming a bed for a skidway (def. 2a).

  • 1896  The 'skidded' landing is a much more business-like affair. In this kind of structure the logs are placed systematically. First a layer of logs is deposited parallel with the river's edge. Across these, at right angles, are laid a few light poles, technically termed skids. On these another layer of logs parallel to the water, and so on to the completion of the structure.
  • 1966  Piles averaging about 0.65 cunits are made as large as possible on skids of non-merchantable wood.

• 1d n. — Hist.

  one of a number of transverse poles or logs, usually peeled and greased, forming a road over which logs were dragged from the cutting area.

  See also: skidroad ((n.))  (def. 1)  

  • 1929  (1956)  This meant cutting and placing skids under the logs so the skidding team could haul them to the main skid road.
  • 1942  Skid Road . . . is a survival of horse-and-bull-logging days, when roads were built with greased cross skids and the logs hauled directly over these by the teams.
  • 1964  At times there were shortlived demands . . . for dogfish oil, which was used in huge quantities by early loggers to grease their skids.

• 1e n. — Hand-logging

  See quote.

  • 1925  Tim proceeded methodically to fall and trim several trees of nearly a foot diameter. He cut them into lengths and thrust the skids at various points beneath the raised log. Over and over again he tested their bearing on the ground and the solidity of the support on which their ends rested; for they must sustain the full weight of the log when the jack should be removed.

• 1f n. — Slang

  put the skids under, cause to lose ground, decline, or fail (that is, cause to go downhill).

  • 1922  Gildersleeve and his associates put the skids under them by manipulating the market, so that the United States plant manufacturing the North Star's paper-making machinery went into bankruptcy.

• 1g n. — Slang

  hit the skids, lose ground, decline, or fail.

  • 1963  The upshot of all this was that the cause of education rather hit the skids in the Clear Hills . . . country.
  • 1966  "Hitting the skids," also "greasing the skids," are both derivatives of the term [skid road]. h. Slang grease the skids make easier; make things run more smoothly.

• 1h n. — Slang

  grease the skids make easier; make things run more smoothly.

  • 1966  "Hitting the skids," also "greasing the skids," are both derivatives of the term [skid road]. h. Slang grease the skids make easier; make things run more smoothly.

• 2 n. — Lumbering

  a bed or inclined platform of two or more timbers on which logs are piled at a brow (def. 1).

  See also: brow (def. 1)  skidway (def. 2a)  

  • 1928  . . . the break-out had been set for the following day. The big skid had been completed and they were going to try it out.
  • 1945  Usually it [the timber] was hauled over snow-roads and left on skids on the beach ready to be rolled down to the water.

• 3 n. — Slang, Hist.

  a prepared road having greased skids (def. 1d) over which logs were dragged by teams of mules, oxen, or horses.

  See also: skid ((n.)) (def. 1d)  skidroad ((n.))  (def. 1)  

  • 1918  I am call' de "Skookum Kid," Rosemarie; / I'm grease lightning on de skid Yes siree. . . .