Is it common anywhere to say "scat" when one sneezes?
I use the phrase "SCAT" when I sneeze, and sometimes when someone in my presence sneezes.
I have lived in different parts of the US and don't know where I picked up this expression. Has anyone heard of this practice before, or is it common anywhere?
Solution 1:
It's short for "scat cat" (imperative Scat! = Go away! Leave me alone!). A usage particularly associated with the American South (perhaps specifically tracing back to religious/superstitious negro plantation slaves1).
As most people know, the archetypal response Bless you! when someone sneezes arises from the medieval belief that the Devil could sneak into your body when you were distracted by a sneeze. And most people also know of strong associations between the Devil and (witches') cats.
It's not "common" in Britain. I've never heard it before, but I've certainly heard Shoo that dog out! as a (facetious) attempt to blame the dog when someone breaks wind inappropriately. Probably not relevant, I know, but maybe the two usages support each other to a slight extent.
Note that this specific definition (one of 13 different entries in the full OED) has it's own separate definition and etymology...
identical with ‘ss cat!’ (i.e. a hiss followed by the word cat) used in driving away cats.
(EDIT) When I wrote this answer a year ago, I had a source saying the usage had its origins in early religious plantation slaves. But the link's now dead, and I can't find anything else now that even recognises the possibility of Scat! as an exclamatory response to a sneeze.
Obviously the usage does exist though, so it's still meaningful to query it here. After revisiting the issue I can't deny my "etymology" now looks like speculation + hearsay. I still think it's at least credible, but I admit I've nothing to back up anything related to regional prevalence and/or origin.
Solution 2:
I'm from the south and I remember my grandmother, who was from small town South Georgia, saying "Scat That" whenever we sneezed. No idea why though.