scoptic (adj.)

1660s, "mocking, scoffing," from Latinized form of Greek skōptikos "given to mockery," from skōptein "to mock, jest." Beekes write of it, "An unexplained formation that must be recent in the prehistory of Greek. The root may be that of [skeptomai] 'to look about' or [skaptō] 'to dig', but neither is immediately obvious. Perhaps the verb is related to skōps 'little horned owl'." Related: Scoptical (1610s).