Skeet is an American form of clay target shooting. As in trapshooting, the target is thrown into the air from a metal-sprung trap. Two target houses are located 42 yards (38 meters) apart. The targets spring from each house over the center post between the two houses, and at different angles of flight so as to approximate closely the effect of shooting at winged game.
Seven shooting stations, corresponding to the half face of a clock, are located on a 21-yard (19-meter) radius. Another is in the center of the circle, halfway between the two target houses. Shooters, using shotguns, fire from each station. Most targets are thrown as single shots, alternating from each house. But some targets spring out in pairs, one from each target house, at different levels. The shooter tries to bring both of the targets down. The name skeet comes from a Scandinavian form of the word shoot.
