skid

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
skid/skɪd/

▶verb (skids, skidding, skidded)

• 1 (of a vehicle) slide, typically sideways, on slippery ground or as a result of stopping or turning too quickly.

  ■ slip; slide.

• 2 fasten a skid to (a wheel) as a brake.

▶noun

• 1 an act of skidding.

• 2 a runner attached to the underside of an aircraft for use when landing on snow or grass.

  ■ N. Amer. each of a set of wooden rollers for moving a log or other heavy object.

• 3 a braking device consisting of a wooden or metal shoe that prevents a wheel from revolving.

• 4 a beam or plank of wood used to support a ship under construction or repair.

– phrases
hit the skids informal begin a rapid decline.
on the skids informal in a bad state; failing.
put the skids under informal hasten the decline or failure of.

– derivatives
skiddy adjective.

– origin C17: perh. rel. to ON skíth (see ski).