>It's SCOTT.
The correct spelling is scot-free. The phrase comes from an old word for "tax" or "payment" and originally meant to escape from paying a tax, but it now means to get away with something without punishment.
Q: what is the etymology of scot-free?
AI Overview:
The phrase "scot-free" originates from the Old English and Old Norse word "scot," which meant a tax, payment, or contribution. To be "scot-free" originally meant to be exempt from paying a tax or fine. Over time, the meaning evolved to refer to escaping any kind of punishment or consequence without penalty.
Etymological breakdown
Scot: Derived from Old English scot and Old Norse skot, it referred to a payment or tax, especially a municipal one. The Proto-Germanic root is *skutą, meaning "that which is thrown or cast".
-free: In this context, it means "exempt" or "without obligation".
Historical usage: The phrase was first used in the context of avoiding local taxes. For example, if someone did not have to pay a tax to the municipality, they got off "scot-free".
Modern usage: The meaning has broadened to its current sense of getting away with something without facing any consequences, whether it's punishment, a penalty, or harm.
Common misconception: The phrase is not related to "Scots" or "Scotland," but rather to the Scandinavian-derived word "scot".
>croco
The American crocodile inhabits brackish or saltwater areas and can be found in ponds, coves, and creeks in mangrove swamps. American crocodiles occur in South Florida and also can be found in Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, along the Caribbean coast from southern Mexico to Venezuela, and along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru.