Chapter CCCXCI: Prologue (42)

Defn: The bowfin. [Local, U.S.]

SAX Sax, n. Etym: [AS. seax a knife.]

Defn: A kind of chopping instrument for trimming the edges of roofing slates.

SAXATILE Sax"a*tile, a. Etym: [L. saxatilis, fr. saxum a rock: cf. F. saxalite.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to rocks; living among rocks; as, a saxatile plant.

SAXHORN Sax"horn`, n. (Mus.)

Defn: A name given to a numerous family of brass wind instruments with valves, invented by Antoine Joseph Sax (known as Adolphe Sax), of Belgium and Paris, and much used in military bands and in orchestras.

SAXICAVA Sax`i*ca"va, n.; pl. E. saxicavas, L. Saxicavæ. Etym: [NL. See Saxicavous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Saxicava. Some of the species are noted for their power of boring holes in limestone and similar rocks.

SAXICAVID Sax`i*ca"vid, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the saxicavas. -- n.

Defn: A saxicava.

SAXICAVOUS Sax`i*ca"vous, a. Etym: [L. saxum rock + cavare to make hollow, fr. cavus hollow: cf. F. saxicave.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Boring, or hollowing out, rocks; -- said of certain mollusks which live in holes which they burrow in rocks. See Illust. of Lithodomus.

SAXICOLINE Sax*ic"o*line, a. Etym: [L. saxum a rock + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Stone-inhabiting; pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, the stonechats.

SAXICOLOUS Sax*ic"o*lous, a. Etym: [See Saxicoline.] (Bot.)

Defn: Growing on rocks.

SAXIFRAGA Sax*if"ra*ga, n. Etym: [L., saxifrage. See Saxifrage.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of exogenous polypetalous plants, embracing about one hundred and eighty species. See Saxifrage.

SAXIFRAGACEOUS Sax`i*fra*ga"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Saxifragaceæ) of which saxifrage is the type. The order includes also the alum root, the hydrangeas, the mock orange, currants and gooseberries, and many other plants.

SAXIFRAGANT Sax*if"ra*gant, a. Etym: [See Saxifrage.]

Defn: Breaking or destroying stones; saxifragous. [R.] -- n.

Defn: That which breaks or destroys stones. [R.]

SAXIFRAGE Sax"i*frage (; 48), n. Etym: [L. saxifraga, from saxifragus stone- breaking; saxum rock + frangere to break: cf. F. saxifrage. See Fracture, and cf. Sassafras, Saxon.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Saxifraga, mostly perennial herbs growing in crevices of rocks in mountainous regions. Burnet saxifrage, a European umbelliferous plant (Pimpinella Saxifraga). -- Golden saxifrage, a low half-sacculent herb (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) growing in rivulets in Europe; also, C. Americanum, common in the United States. See also under Golden. -- Meadow saxifrage, or Pepper saxifrage. See under Meadow.

SAXIFRAGOUS Sax*if"ra*gous, a. Etym: [L. saxifragus: cf. F. saxifrage. See Saxifrage.]

Defn: Dissolving stone, especially dissolving stone in the bladder.

SAXON Sax"on, n. Etym: [l. Saxo, pl. Saxones, from the Saxon national name; cf. AS. pl. Seaxe, Seaxan, fr. seax a knife, a short sword, a dagger (akin to OHG. sahs, and perhaps to L. saxum rock, stone, knives being originally made of stone); and cf. G. Sachse, pl. Sachsen. Cf. Saxifrage.]

1. (a) One of a nation or people who formerly dwelt in the nothern part of Germany, and who, with other Teutonic tribes, invaded and conquered England in the fifth and sixth centuries. (b) Also used in the sense of Anglo-Saxon. (c) A native or inhabitant of modern Saxony.

2. The language of the Saxons; Anglo-Saxon. old Saxon, the saxon of the continent of Europe in the old form of the language, as shown particularly in the "Heliand", a metrical narration of the gospel history preserved in manuscripts of the 9th century.

SAXON Sax"on, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Saxons, their country, or their language. (b) Anglo-Saxon. (c) Of or pertaining to Saxony or its inhabitants. Saxon blue (Dyeing), a deep blue liquid used in dyeing, and obtained by dissolving indigo in concentrated sulphuric acid. Brande & C. -- Saxon green (Dyeing), a green color produced by dyeing with yellow upon a ground of Saxon blue.

SAXONIC Sax*on"ic, a.

Defn: relating to the saxons or Anglo-Saxons.

SAXONISM Sax"on*ism, n.

Defn: An idiom of the Saxon or Anglo-Saxon language. T. Warton.

SAXONIST Sax"on*ist, n.

Defn: One versed in the Saxon language.

SAXONITE Sax"on*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Mountain soap, under Mountain.

SAXONY Sax"o*ny, n. [So named after the kingdom of Saxony, reputed to produce fine wool.]

1. A kind of glossy woolen cloth formerly much used.

2. Saxony yarn, or flannel made of it or similar yarn.

SAXONY YARN Saxony yarn.

Defn: A fine grade of woolen yarn twisted somewhat harder and smoother than zephyr yarn.

SAXOPHONE Sax"o*phone, n. Etym: [A.A.J. Sax, the inventor (see Saxhorn) + Gr. (Mus.)

Defn: A wind instrument of brass, containing a reed, and partaking of the qualities both of a brass instrument and of a clarinet.

SAX-TUBA Sax"-tu`ba, n. Etym: [See Saxhorn, and Tube.] (Mus.)

Defn: A powerful instrument of brass, curved somewhat like the Roman buccina, or tuba.

SAY Say, obs. imp. of See.

Defn: Saw. Chaucer.

SAY Say, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of assay.]

1. Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack. [Obs.] if those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and saus, as if were, of that final benefit. Hooker. Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes. Shak.

2. Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.] he found a sword of better say. Spenser.

3. Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.] To give a say at, to attempt. B. Jonson.

SAY Say, v. t.

Defn: To try; to assay. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SAY Say, n. Etym: [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum, sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. Sagum.]

1. A kind of silk or satin. [Obs.] Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! Shak.

2. A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [Obs.] His garment neither was of silk nor say. Spenser.

SAY Say, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said, contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Saying.] Etym: [OE. seggen, seyen, siggen, sayen, sayn, AS. secgan; akin to OS. seggian, D. zeggen, LG. seggen, OHG. sag, G. sagen, Icel. segja, Sw. säga, Dan. sige, Lith. sakyti; cf. OL. insece teil, relate, Gr. Saga, Saw a saying.]

1. To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things. Arise, and say how thou camest here. Shak.

2. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson. Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated In what thou hadst to say Shak. After which shall be said or sung the following hymn. Bk. of Com. Prayer.

3. To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively; to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure about; to be determined in mind as to. But what it is, hard is to say. Milton.

4. To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles. Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double, Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble Shak. It is said, or They say, it is commonly reported; it is rumored; people assert or maintain. -- That is to say, that is; in other words; otherwise.

SAY Say, v. i.

Defn: To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply. You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge. Shak. To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies Milton.

SAY Say, n. Etym: [From Say, v. t.; cf. Saw a saying.]

Defn: A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb. [Archaic or Colloq.] He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap. L'Estrange. That strange palmer's boding say, That fell so ominous and drear Full on the object of his fear. Sir W. Scott.

SAYER Say"er, n.

Defn: One who says; an utterer. Mr. Curran was something much better than a sayer of smart sayings. Jeffrey.

SAYETTE Sa*yette", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Say a kind of serge.]

Defn: A mixed stuff, called also sagathy. See Sagathy.

SAYING Say"ing, n.

Defn: That which is said; a declaration; a statement, especially a proverbial one; an aphorism; a proverb. Many are the sayings of the wise, In ancient and in modern books enrolled. Milton.

Syn. -- Declaration; speech; adage; maxim; aphorism; apothegm; saw; proverb; byword.

SAYMAN Say"man, n. Etym: [Say sample + man.]

Defn: One who assays. [Obs.]

SAYMASTER Say"mas`ter, n.

Defn: A master of assay; one who tries or proves. [Obs.] "Great saymaster of state." D. Jonson.

SAYND Saynd,

Defn: obs. p. p. of Senge, to singe. Chaucer.

'SBLOOD 'Sblood, interj.

Defn: An abbreviation of God's blood; -- used as an oath. [Obs.] Shak.

SCAB Scab, n. Etym: [OE. scab, scabbe, shabbe; cf. AS. scæb, sceabb, scebb, Dan. & Sw. skab, and also L. scabies, tr. scabere to scratch, akin to E. shave. See Shave, and cf. Shab, Shabby.]

1. An incrustation over a sore, wound, vesicle, or pustule, formed by the drying up of the discharge from the diseased part.

2. The itch in man; also, the scurvy. [Colloq. or Obs.]

3. The mange, esp. when it appears on sheep. Chaucer.

4. A disease of potatoes producing pits in their surface, caused by a minute fungus (Tiburcinia Scabies).

5. (Founding)

Defn: A slight iregular protuberance which defaces the surface of a casting, caused by the breaking away of a part of the mold.

6. A mean, dirty, paltry fellow. [Low] Shak.

7. A nickname for a workman who engages for lower wages than are fixed by the trades unions; also, for one who takes the place of a workman on a strike. [Cant]

SCAB Scab, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scabbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scabbing.]

Defn: To become covered with a scab; as, the wound scabbed over.

SCABBARD Scab"bard, n. Etym: [OE. scaubert, scauberk, OF. escaubers, escauberz, pl., scabbards, probably of German or Scan. origin; cf. Icel. skalpr scabbard, and G. bergen to conceal. Cf. Hauberk.]

Defn: The case in which the blade of a sword, dagger, etc., is kept; a sheath. Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade. Fairfax. Scabbard fish (Zoöl.), a long, compressed, silver-colored tænioid fish (Lepidopus caudatus, or argyreus), found on the European coasts, and more abundantly about New Zealand, where it is called frostfish and considered an excellent food fish.

SCABBARD Scab"bard, v. t.

Defn: To put in a scabbard.

SCABBARD PLANE Scab"bard plane`.

Defn: See Scaleboard plane, under Scaleboard.

SCABBED Scab"bed ( or ), a.

1. Abounding with scabs; diseased with scabs.

2. Fig.: Mean; paltry; vile; worthless. Bacon.

SCABBEDNESS Scab"bed*ness, n.

Defn: Scabbiness.

SCABBILY Scab"bi*ly, adv.

Defn: In a scabby manner.

SCABBINESS Scab"bi*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being scabby.

SCABBLE Scab"ble, v. t.

Defn: See Scapple.

SCABBY Scab"by, a. [Compar. Scabbier (; superl. Scabbiest.]

1. Affected with scabs; full of scabs.

2. Diseased with the scab, or mange; mangy. Swift.

SCABIES Sca"bi*es, n. (Med.)

Defn: The itch.

SCABIOUS Sca"bi*ous, a. Etym: [L. scabious, from scabies the scab: cf. F. scabieux.]

Defn: Consisting of scabs; rough; itchy; leprous; as, scabious eruptions. Arbuthnot.

SCABIOUS Sca"bi*ous, n. Etym: [Cf. F. scabieuse. See Scabious, a.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Scabiosa, several of the species of which are common in Europe. They resemble the Compositæ, and have similar heads of flowers, but the anthers are not connected. Sweet scabious (a) Mourning bride. (b) A daisylike plant (Erigeron annuus) having a stout branching stem.

SCABLING Scab"ling, n. Etym: [See Scapple.]

Defn: A fragment or chip of stone. [Written also scabline.]

SCABREDITY Sca*bred"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. scabredo, fr. scaber rough.]

Defn: Roughness; ruggedness. [Obs.] Burton.

SCABROUS Sca"brous, a. Etym: [L. scabrosus, fr. scaber rough: cf. F. scabreux.]

1. Rough to the touch, like a file; having small raised dots, scales, or points; scabby; scurfy; scaly. Arbuthnot.

2. Fig.: Harsh; unmusical. [R.] His verse is scabrous and hobbling. Dryden.

SCABROUSNESS Sca"brous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being scabrous.

SCABWORT Scab"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Elecampane.

SCAD Scad, n. Etym: [Gael. & ir. sgadan a herring.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small carangoid fish (Trachurus saurus) abundant on the European coast, and less common on the American. The name is applied also to several allied species. (b) The goggler; -- called also big-eyed scad. See Goggler. (c) The friar skate. [Scot.] (d) The cigar fish, or round robin.

SCAFFOLD Scaf"fold, n. Etym: [OF. eschafault, eschafaut, escafaut, escadafaut, F. échafaud; probably oiginally the same word as E. & F. catafalque, It. catafafalco. See Catafalque.]

1. A temporary structure of timber, boards, etc., for various purposes, as for supporting workmen and materials in building, for exhibiting a spectacle upon, for holding the spectators at a show, etc. Pardon, gentles all, The flat, unraised spirits that have dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object. Shak.

2. Specifically, a stage or elevated platform for the execution of a criminal; as, to die on the scaffold. That a scaffold of execution should grow a scaffold of coronation. Sir P. Sidney.

3. (Metal.)

Defn: An accumulation of adherent, partly fused material forming a shelf, or dome-shaped obstruction, above the tuyères in a blast furnace.

SCAFFOLD Scaf"fold, v. t.

Defn: To furnish or uphold with a scaffold.

SCAFFOLDAGE Scaf"fold*age, n.

Defn: A scaffold. [R.] Shak.

SCAFFOLDING Scaf"fold*ing, n.

1. A scaffold; a supporting framework; as, the scaffolding of the body. Pope.

2. Materials for building scaffolds.

SCAGLIA Scagl"ia, n. Etym: [It. scaglia a scale, a shell, a ship of marble.]

Defn: A reddish variety of limestone.

SCAGLIOLA Scagl*io"la, n. Etym: [It. scagliuola, dim. of scaglia. See Scaglia.]

Defn: An imitation of any veined and ornamental stone, as marble, formed by a substratum of finely ground gypsum mixed with glue, the surface of which, while soft, is variegated with splinters of marble, spar, granite, etc., and subsequently colored and polished.

SCALA Sca"la, n.; pl. Scalæ. Etym: [L., a ladder.]

1. (Surg.)

Defn: A machine formerly employed for reducing dislocations of the humerus.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: A term applied to any one of the three canals of the cochlea.

SCALABLE Scal"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being scaled.

SCALADE; SCALADO Sca*lade", Sca*la"do, n. (Mil.)

Defn: See Escalade. Fairfax.

SCALAR Sca"lar, n. (Math.)

Defn: In the quaternion analysis, a quantity that has magnitude, but not direction; -- distinguished from a vector, which has both magnitude and direction.

SCALARIA Sca*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [L., flight of steps.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine gastropods of the genus Scalaria, or family Scalaridæ, having elongated spiral turreted shells, with rounded whorls, usually crossed by ribs or varices. The color is generally white or pale. Called also ladder shell, and wentletrap. See Ptenoglossa, and Wentletrap.

SCALARIFORM Sca*lar"i*form, a. Etym: [L. scalare, scalaria, staircase, ladder + - form: cf. F. scalariforme.]

1. Resembling a ladder in form or appearance; having transverse bars or markings like the rounds of a ladder; as, the scalariform cells and scalariform pits in some plants.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to a scalaria.

SCALARY Sca"la*ry, a. Etym: [L. scalaris, fr. scale, pl. scala, staircase, ladder.]

Defn: Resembling a ladder; formed with steps. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SCALAWAG Scal"a*wag, n.

Defn: A scamp; a scapegrace. [Spelt also scallawag.] [Slang, U.S.] Bartlett.

SCALD Scald, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scalding.] Etym: [OF. eschalder, eschauder, escauder, F. échauder, fr. L. excaldare; ex + caldus, calidus, warm, hot. See Ex, and Calderon.]

1. To burn with hot liquid or steam; to pain or injure by contact with, or imersion in, any hot fluid; as, to scald the hand. Mine own tears Do scald like molten lead. Shak. Here the blue flames of scalding brimstone fall. Cowley.

2. To expose to a boiling or violent heat over a fire, or in hot water or other liquor; as, to scald milk or meat.

SCALD Scald, n.

Defn: A burn, or injury to the skin or flesh, by some hot liquid, or by steam.

SCALD Scald, a. Etym: [For scalled. See Scall.]

1. Affected with the scab; scaby. Shak.

2. Scurry; paltry; as, scald rhymers. [Obs.] Shak. Scald crow (Zoöl.), the hooded crow. [Ireland] -- Scald head (Med.), a name popularly given to several diseases of the scalp characterized by pustules (the dried discharge of which forms scales) and by falling out of the hair.

SCALD Scald, n.

Defn: Scurf on the head. See Scall. Spenser.

SCALD Scald ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Icel. skald.]

Defn: One of the ancient Scandinavian poets and historiographers; a reciter and singer of heroic poems, etc., among the Norsemen; more rarely, a bard of any of the ancient Teutonic tribes. [Written also skald.] A war song such as was of yore chanted on the field of battle by the scalds of the yet heathen Saxons. Sir W. Scott.

SCALDER Scald"er, n.

Defn: A Scandinavian poet; a scald.

SCALDFISH Scald"fish`, n. Etym: [Scald, a. + fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European flounder (Arnoglosus laterna, or Psetta arnoglossa); -- called also megrin, and smooth sole.

SCALDIC Scald"ic ( or ), a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the scalds of the Norsemen; as, scaldic poetry.

SCALE Scale, n. Etym: [AS. scale; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. skal balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. scala, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E. scale of a fish. Cf. Scale of a fish, Skull the brain case.]

1. The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively. Long time in even scale The battle hung. Milton. The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no more Now than my vows. Waller.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The sign or constellation Libra. Platform scale. See under Platform. tip the scales, influence an action so as to change an outcome from one likely result to another.

SCALE Scale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scaling.]

Defn: To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system. Scaling his present bearing with his past. Shak. To scale, or scale down, a debt, wages, etc., to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale. [U.S.]

SCALE Scale, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. scealu, scalu, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal, G. schale, OHG. scala, Dan. & Sw. skal a shell, Dan. skiæl a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; butperhaps rather fr. OF. escale, escaile, F. écaille scale of a fish, and écale shell of beans, pease, egs, nuts, of German origin, and akin to Goth. skalja, G. schale. See Shale.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid. Fish that, with their fins and shining scales, Glide under the green wave. Milton.

2. Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A scale insect. (See below.)

5. (Bot.)

Defn: A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.

6. The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.

7. An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.

8. (Metal.)

Defn: The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists esentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals. Covering scale (Zoöl.), a hydrophyllium. -- Ganoid scale (Zoöl.) See under Ganoid. -- Scale armor (Mil.), armor made of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth. -- Scale beetle (Zoöl.), the tiger beetle. -- Scale carp (Zoöl.), a carp having normal scales. -- Scale insect (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small hemipterous insects belonging to the family Coccidæ, in which the females, when adult, become more or less scalelike in form. They are found upon the leaves and twigs of various trees and shrubs, and often do great damage to fruit trees. See Orange scale,under Orange. -- Scale moss (Bot.), any leafy-stemmed moss of the order Hepaticæ; -- so called from the small imbricated scalelike leaves of most of the species. See Hepatica, 2, and Jungermannia.

SCALE Scale, v. t.

1. To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.

2. To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface. "If all the mountaines were scaled, and the earth made even." T. Burnet.

3. To scatter; to spread. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

4. (Gun.)

Defn: To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder. Totten.

SCALE Scale, v. i.

1. To separate and come off in thin layers or laminæ; as, some sandstone scales by exposure. Those that cast their shell are the lobster and crab; the old skins are found, but the old shells never; so it is likely that they scale off. Bacon.

2. To separate; to scatter. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

SCALE Scale, n. Etym: [L. scalae, pl., scala staircase, ladder; akin to scandere to climb. See Scan; cf. Escalade.]

1. A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending. [Obs.]

2. Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals. Specifically: (a) A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See Gunter's scale. (b) A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan. (c) A basis for a numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc. (d) (Mus.) The graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave; -- called also the gamut. It may be repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic, Diatonic, Major, and Minor.

3. Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being. There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion. Milton.

4. Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile. Scale of chords, a graduated scale on which are given the lengths of the chords of arcs from 0º to 90º in a circle of given radius, -- used in measuring given angles and in plotting angles of given numbers of degrees.

SCALE Scale, v. t. Etym: [Cf. It. scalare, fr. L. scale, scala. See Scale a ladder.]

Defn: To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort. Oft have I scaled the craggy oak. Spenser.

SCALE Scale, v. i.

Defn: To lead up by steps; to ascend. [Obs.] Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, That scaled by steps of gold to heaven-gate, Looks down with wonder. Milton.

SCALEBACK Scale"back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine annelids of the family Polynoidæ, and allies, which have two rows of scales, or elytra, along the back. See Illust. under Chætopoda.

SCALEBEAM Scale"beam`, n.

1. The lever or beam of a balance; the lever of a platform scale, to which the poise for weighing is applied.

2. A weighing apparatus with a sliding weight, resembling a steelyard.

SCALEBOARD Scale"board` (; commonly , n. Etym: [3d scale + board.]

1. (Print.)

Defn: A thin slip of wood used to justify a page. [Obs.] Crabb.

2. A thin veneer of leaf of wood used for covering the surface of articles of firniture, and the like. Scaleboard plane, a plane for cutting from a board a wide shaving forming a scaleboard.

SCALED Scaled, a.

1. Covered with scales, or scalelike structures; -- said of a fish, a reptile, a moth, etc.

2. Without scales, or with the scales removed; as, scaled herring.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having feathers which in form, color, or arrangement somewhat resemble scales; as, the scaled dove. Scaled dove (Zoöl.), any American dove of the genus Scardafella. Its colored feather tips resemble scales.

SCALELESS Scale"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of scales.

SCALENE Sca*lene", a. Etym: [L. scalenus, Gr. scalène.]

1. (Geom.) (a) Having the sides and angles unequal; -- said of a triangle. (b) Having the axis inclined to the base, as a cone.

2. (Anat.) (a) Designating several triangular muscles called scalene muscles. (b) Of or pertaining to the scalene muscles. Scalene muscles (Anat.), a group of muscles, usually three on each side in man, extending from the cervical vertebræ to the first and second ribs.

SCALENE Sca*lene", n. (Geom.)

Defn: A triangle having its sides and angles unequal.

SCALENOHEDRAL Sca*le`no*he"dral, a. (Crystallog.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a scalenohedron.

SCALENOHEDRON Sca*le`no*he"dron, n. Etym: [Gr. (Crystallog.)

Defn: A pyramidal form under the rhombohedral system, inclosed by twelve faces, each a scalene triangle.

SCALER Scal"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, scales; specifically, a dentist's instrument for removing tartar from the teeth.

SCALE-WINGED Scale"-winged`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the wings covered with small scalelike structures, as the lepidoptera; scaly-winged.

SCALINESS Scal"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being scaly; roughness.

SCALING Scal"ing, a.

1. Adapted for removing scales, as from a fish; as, a scaling knife; adapted for removing scale, as from the interior of a steam boiler; as, a scaling hammer, bar, etc.

2. Serving as an aid in clambering; as, a scaling ladder, used in assaulting a fortified place.

SCALIOLA Scal*io"la, n.

Defn: Same as Scagliola.

SCALL Scall, n. Etym: [Icel. skalli a bald head. Cf. Scald, a.]

Defn: A scurf or scabby disease, especially of the scalp. It is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head. Lev. xiii. 30.

SCALL Scall, a.

Defn: Scabby; scurfy. [Obs.] Shak.

SCALLED Scalled, a.

Defn: Scabby; scurfy; scall. [Obs.] "With scalled brows black." Chaucer. Scalled head. (Med.) See Scald head, under Scald, a.

SCALLION Scal"lion, n. Etym: [OF. escalone, escaloingne, L. caepa Ascalonius of Ascalon, fr. Ascalo Ascalon, a town in Palestine. Cf. Shallot.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of small onion (Allium Ascalonicum), native of Palestine; the eschalot, or shallot.

2. Any onion which does not "bottom out," but remains with a thick stem like a leek. Amer. Cyc.

SCALLOP Scal"lop, n. Etym: [OF. escalope a shell, probably of German or Dutch origin, and akin to E. scale of a fish; cf. D. schelp shell. See Scale of a fish, and cf. Escalop.] [Written also scollop.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Pecten and allied genera of the family Pectinidæ. The shell is usually radially ribbed, and the edge is therefore often undulated in a characteristic manner. The large adductor muscle of some the species is much used as food. One species (Vola Jacobæus) occurs on the coast of Palestine, and its shell was formerly worn by pilgrims as a mark that they had been to the Holy Land. Called also fan shell. See Pecten, 2.

Note: The common edible scallop of the Eastern United States is Pecten irradians; the large sea scallop, also used as food, is P. Clontonius, or tenuicostastus.

2. One of series of segments of circles joined at their extremities, forming a border like the edge or surface of a scallop shell.

3. One of the shells of a scallop; also, a dish resembling a scallop shell.

SCALLOP Scal"lop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scalloped; p. pr. & vb. n. Scalloping.]

1. To mark or cut the edge or border of into segments of circles, like the edge or surface of a scallop shell. See Scallop, n., 2.

2. (Cookery)

Defn: To bake in scallop shells or dishes; to prepare with crumbs of bread or cracker, and bake. See Scalloped oysters, below.

SCALLOPED Scal"loped, a.

1. Furnished with a scallop; made or done with or in a scallop.

2. Having the edge or border cut or marked with segments of circles. See Scallop, n., 2.

3. (Cookery)

Defn: Baked in a scallop; cooked with crumbs. Scalloped oysters (Cookery), opened oysters baked in a deep dish with alternate layers of bread or cracker crumbs, seasoned with pepper, nutmeg, and butter. This was at first done in scallop shells.

SCALLOPER Scal"lop*er, n.

Defn: One who fishes for scallops.

SCALLOPING Scal"lop*ing, n.

Defn: Fishing for scallops.

SCALP Scalp, n. Etym: [Cf. Scallop.]

Defn: A bed of oysters or mussels. [Scot.]

SCALP Scalp, n. Etym: [Perhaps akin to D. schelp shell. Cf. Scallop.]

1. That part of the integument of the head which is usually covered with hair. By the bare scalp of Robin Hodd's fat friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction! Shak.

2. A part of the skin of the head, with the hair attached, cut or torn off from an enemy by the Indian warriors of North America, as a token of victory.

3. Fig.: The top; the summit. Macaulay. Scalp lock, a long tuft of hair left on the crown of the head by the warriors of some tribes of American Indians.

SCALP Scalp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scalped; p. pr. & vb. n. Scalping.]

1. To deprive of the scalp; to cut or tear the scalp from the head of.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: To remove the skin of. We must scalp the whole lid [of the eye]. J. S. Wells.

3. (Milling.)

Defn: To brush the hairs of fuzz from, as wheat grains, in the process of high milling. Knight.

SCALP Scalp, v. i.

Defn: To make a small, quick profit by slight fluctuations of the market; -- said of brokers who operate in this way on their own account. [Cant]

SCALPEL Scal"pel, n. Etym: [L scalpellum, dim. of scalprum a knife, akin to scalpere to cut, carve, scrape: cf. F. scalpel.] (Surg.)

Defn: A small knife with a thin, keen blade, -- used by surgeons, and in dissecting.

SCALPER Scalper, n.

1. One who, or that which, scalps.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: Same as Scalping iron, under Scalping.

3. A broker who, dealing on his own account, tries to get a small and quick profit from slight fluctuations of the market. [Cant]

4. A person who buys and sells the unused parts of railroad tickets. [Cant]

SCALPING Scalp"ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Scalp. Scalping iron (Surg.), an instrument used in scraping foul and carious bones; a raspatory. -- Scalping knife, a knife used by north American Indians in scalping.

SCALPRIFORM Scal"pri*form, a. Etym: [L. scalprum chisel, knife + -form.] (Anat.)

Defn: Shaped like a chisel; as, the scalpriform incisors of rodents.

SCALY Scal"y, a.

1. Covered or abounding with scales; as, a scaly fish. "Scaly crocodile." Milton.

2. Resembling scales, laminæ, or layers.

3. Mean; low; as, a scaly fellow. [Low]

4. (Bot.)

Defn: Composed of scales lying over each other; as, a scaly bulb; covered with scales; as, a scaly stem. Scaly ant-eater (Zoöl.), the pangolin.

SCALY-WINGED Scal"y-winged`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Scale-winged.

SCAMBLE Scam"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scambled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scambling.] Etym: [Cf. OD. schampelen to deviate, to slip, schampen to go away, escape, slip, and E. scamper, shamble.]

1. To move awkwardly; to be shuffling, irregular, or unsteady; to sprawl; to shamble. "Some scambling shifts." Dr. H. More. "A fine old hall, but a scambling house." Evelyn.

2. To move about pushing and jostling; to be rude and turbulent; to scramble. "The scambling and unquiet time did push it out of . . . question." Shak.

SCAMBLE Scam"ble, v. t.

Defn: To mangle. [Obs.] Mortimer.

SCAMBLER Scam"bler, n.

Defn: 1. One who scambles.

2. A bold intruder upon the hospitality of others; a mealtime visitor. [Scot.]

SCAMBLINGLY Scam"bling*ly, adv.

Defn: In a scambling manner; with turbulence and noise; with bold intrusiveness.

SCAMELL; SCAMMEL Scam"ell, or; Scam"mel, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The female bar-tailed godwit. [Prov. Eng.]

Note: Whether this is the scamel mentioned by Shakespeare ["Tempest," ii. 2] is not known.

SCAMILLUS Sca*mil"lus, n.; pl. Scamilli. Etym: [L., originally, a little bench, dim. of scamnum bench, stool.] (Arch.)

Defn: A sort of second plinth or block, below the bases of Ionic and Corinthian columns, generally without moldings, and of smaller size horizontally than the pedestal.

SCAMMONIATE Scam*mo"ni*ate, a.

Defn: Made from scammony; as, a scammoniate aperient.

SCAMMONY Scam"mo*ny, n. Etym: [F. scammonée, L. scammonia, scammonea, Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of bindweed or Convolvulus (C. Scammonia).

2. An inspissated sap obtained from the rot of the Convolvulus Scammonia, of a blackish gray color, a nauseous smell like that of old cheese, and a somewhat acrid taste. It is used in medicine as a cathartic.

SCAMP Scamp, n. Etym: [OF. escamper to run away, to make one's escape. originally, one who runs away, a fugitive, a vagabond. See Scamper.]

Defn: A rascal; a swindler; a rogue. De Quincey.

SCAMP Scamp, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Scamp,n., or Scant, a., and Skimp.]

Defn: To perform in a hasty, neglectful, or imperfect manner; to do superficially. [Colloq.] A workman is said to scamp his work when he does it in a superficial, dishonest manner. Wedgwood. Much of the scamping and dawdling complained of is that of men in establishments of good repute. T. Hughes.

SCAMPAVIA Scam`pa*vi"a, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: A long, low war galley used by the Neapolitans and Sicilians in the early part of the nineteenth century.

SCAMPER Scam"per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scampered; p. pr. & vb. n. Scampering.] Etym: [OF. escamper to escape, to save one's self; L. ex from + campus the field (sc. of battle). See Camp, and cf. Decamp, Scamp, n., Shamble, v. t.]

Defn: To run with speed; to run or move in a quick, hurried manner; to hasten away. Macaulay. The lady, however, . . . could not help scampering about the room after a mouse. S. Sharpe.

SCAMPER Scam"per, n.

Defn: A scampering; a hasty flight.

SCAMPERER Scam"per*er, n.

Defn: One who scampers. Tyndell.

SCAMPISH Scamp"ish, a.

Defn: Of or like a scamp; knavish; as, scampish conduct.

SCAN Scan, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Scanning.] Etym: [L. scandere, scansum, to climb, to scan, akin to Skr. skand to spring, leap: cf. F. scander. Cf. Ascend, Descend, Scale a ladder.]

1. To mount by steps; to go through with step by step. [Obs.] Nor stayed till she the highest stage had scand. Spenser.

2. Specifically (Pros.), to go through with, as a verse, marking and distinguishing the feet of which it is composed; to show, in reading, the metrical structure of; to recite metrically.

3. To go over and examine point by point; to examine with care; to look closely at or into; to scrutinize. The actions of men in high stations are all conspicuous, and liable to be scanned and sifted. Atterbury.

SCANDAL Scan"dal, n. Etym: [F. scandale, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. scandle, OF. escandle. See Slander.]

1. Offense caused or experienced; reproach or reprobation called forth by what is regarded as wrong, criminal, heinous, or flagrant: opprobrium or disgrace. O, what a scandal is it to our crown, That two such noble peers as ye should jar! Shak. [I] have brought scandal To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt In feeble hearts. Milton.

2. Reproachful aspersion; opprobrious censure; defamatory talk, uttered heedlessly or maliciously. You must not put another scandal on him. Shak. My known virtue is from scandal free. Dryden.

3. (Equity)

Defn: Anything alleged in pleading which is impertinent, and is reproachful to any person, or which derogates from the dignity of the court, or is contrary to good manners. Daniell.

Syn. -- Defamation; detraction; slander; calumny; opprobrium; reproach; shame; disgrace.

SCANDAL Scan"dal, v. t.

1. To treat opprobriously; to defame; to asperse; to traduce; to slander. [R.] I do faws on men and hug them hard And after scandal them. Shak.

2. To scandalize; to offend. [Obs.] Bp. Story.

Syn. -- To defame; traduce; reproach; slander; calumniate; asperse; vilify; disgarce.

SCANDALIZE Scan"dal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scandalized (; p. pr. & vb. n. Scandalizing (.] Etym: [F. scandaliser, L. scandalizare, from Gr. skandali`zein.]

1. To offend the feelings of the conscience of (a person) by some action which is considered immoral or criminal; to bring shame, disgrace, or reproach upon. I demand who they are whom we scandalize by using harmless things. Hooker. the congregation looked on in silence, the better class scandalized, and the lower orders, some laughing, others backing the soldier or the minister, as their fancy dictated. Sir W. Scott.

2. To reproach; to libel; to defame; to slander. To tell his tale might be interpreted into scandalizing the order. Sir W. Scott.

SCANDALOUS Scan"dal*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. scandaleux.]

1. Giving offense to the conscience or moral feelings; exciting reprobation; calling out condemnation. Nothing scandalous or offensive unto any. Hooker.

2. Disgraceful to reputation; bringing shame or infamy; opprobrious; as, a scandalous crime or vice.

3. Defamatory; libelous; as, a scandalous story.

SCANDALOUSLY Scan"dal*ous*ly, adv.

1. In a manner to give offense; shamefully. His discourse at table was scandalously unbecoming the digmity of his station. Swift.

2. With a disposition to impute immorality or wrong. Shun their fault, who, scandalously nice, Will needs mistake an author into vice. Pope.

SCANDALOUSNESS Scan"dal*ous*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being scandalous.

SCANDALUM MAGNATUM Scan"da*lum mag*na"tum`. Etym: [L., scandal of magnates.] (Law)

Defn: A defamatory speech or writing published to the injury of a person of dignity; -- usually abbreviated scan. mag.

SCANDENT Scan"dent, a. Etym: [L. scandens, -entis, p.pr. of scandere to climb.]

Defn: Climbing.

Note: Scandent plants may climb either by twining, as the hop, or by twisted leafstalks, as the clematis, or by tendrils, as the passion flower, or by rootlets, as the ivy.

SCANDIA Scan"di*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Scandium.] (Chem.)

Defn: A chemical earth, the oxide of scandium.

SCANDIC Scan"dic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to scandium; derived from, or containing, scandium.

SCANDINAVIAN Scan`di*na"vi*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Scandinavia, that is, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Scandinavia.

SCANDIUM Scan"di*um, n. Etym: [NL. So called because found in Scandinavian minerals] (Chem.)

Defn: A rare metallic element of the boron group, whose existence was predicated under the provisional name ekaboron by means of the periodic law, and subsequently discovered by spectrum analysis in certain rare Scandinavian minerals (euxenite and gadolinite). It has not yet been isolated. Symbol Sc. Atomic weight 44

SCANSION Scan"sion, n. Etym: [L. scansio, fr. scandere, scansum, to climb. See Scan.] (Pros.)

Defn: The act of scanning; distinguishing the metrical feet of a verse by emphasis, pauses, or otherwise.

SCANSORES Scan*so"res, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. scandere, scansum, to climb.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An artifical group of birds formerly regarded as an order. They are distributed among several orders by modern ornithologists.

Note: The toes are in pairs, two before and two behind, by which they are enabled to cling to, and climb upon, trees, as the woodpeckers, parrots, cuckoos, and trogons. See Illust. under Aves.

SCANSORIAL Scan*so"ri*al, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Capable of climbing; as, the woodpecker is a scansorial bird; adapted for climbing; as, the scansorial foot. (b) Of or pertaining to the Scansores. See Illust. under Aves. Scansorial tail (Zoöl.), a tail in which the feathers are stiff and sharp at the tip, as in the woodpeckers.

SCANT Scant, a. [Compar. Scanter; superl. Scantest.] Etym: [Icel. skamt, neuter of skamr, skammr, short; cf. skamta to dole out, to portion.]

1. Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a scant pattern of cloth for a garment. His sermon was scant, in all, a quarter of an hour. Ridley.

2. Sparing; parsimonious; chary. Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Shak.

Syn. -- See under Scanty.

SCANT Scant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Scanting.]

1. To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as, to scant one in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use of necessaries. Where man hath a great living laid together and where he is scanted. Bacon. I am scanted in the pleasure of dwelling on your actions. Dryden.

2. To cut short; to make small, narrow, or scanty; to curtail. "Scant not my cups." Shak.

SCANT Scant, v. i.

Defn: To fail, of become less; to scantle; as, the wind scants.

SCANT Scant, adv.

Defn: In a scant manner; with difficulty; scarcely; hardly. [Obs.] Bacon. So weak that he was scant able to go down the stairs. Fuller.

SCANT Scant, n.

Defn: Scantness; scarcity. [R.] T. Carew.

SCANTILY Scant"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a scanty manner; not fully; not plentifully; sparingly; parsimoniously. His mind was very scantily stored with materials. Macaulay.

SCANTINESS Scant"i*ness, n.

Defn: Quality condition of being scanty.

SCANTLE Scan"tle, v. i. Etym: [Dim. of scant, v.]

Defn: To be deficient; to fail. [Obs.] Drayton.

SCANTLE Scan"tle, v. t. Etym: [OF. escanteler, eschanteler, to break into contles; pref. es- (L. ex) + cantel, chantel, corner, side, piece. Confused with E. scant. See Cantle.]

Defn: To scant; to be niggard of; to divide into small pieces; to cut short or down. [Obs.] All their pay Must your discretion scantle; keep it back. J. Webster.

SCANTLET Scant"let, n. Etym: [OF. eschantelet corner.]

Defn: A small pattern; a small quantity. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

SCANTLING Scant"ling, a. Etym: [See Scant, a.]

Defn: Not plentiful; small; scanty. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

SCANTLING Scant"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. eschantillon, F. échantillon, a sample, pattern, example. In some senses confused with scant insufficient. See Scantle, v. t.]

1. A fragment; a bit; a little piece. Specifically: (a) A piece or quantity cut for a special purpose; a sample. [Obs.] Such as exceed not this scantling; -- to be solace to the sovereign and harmless to the people. Bacon. A pretty scantling of his knowledge may taken by his deferring to be baptized so many years. Milton.

(b) A small quantity; a little bit; not much. [Obs.] Reducing them to narrow scantlings. Jer. Taylor.

2. A piece of timber sawed or cut of a small size, as for studs, rails, etc.

3. The dimensions of a piece of timber with regard to its breadth and thickness; hence, the measure or dimensions of anything.

4. A rough draught; a rude sketch or outline.

5. A frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle. Knight.

SCANTLY Scant"ly, adv.

1. In a scant manner; not fully or sufficiently; narrowly; penuriously. Dryden.

2. Scarcely; hardly; barely. Scantly they durst their feeble eyes dispread Upon that town. Fairfax. We hold a tourney here to-morrow morn, And there is scantly time for half the work. Tennyson.

SCANTNESS Scant"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or condition of being scant; narrowness; smallness; insufficiency; scantiness. "Scantness of outward things." Barrow.

SCANTY Scant"y, a. [Compar. Scantier; superl. Scantiest.] Etym: [From Scant, a.]

1. Wanting amplitude or extent; narrow; small; not abundant. his dominions were very narrow and scanty. Locke. Now scantier limits the proud arch confine. Pope.

2. Somewhat less than is needed; insufficient; scant; as, a scanty supply of words; a scanty supply of bread.

3. Sparing; niggardly; parsimonius. In illustrating a point of difficulty, be not too scanty of words. I. Watts.

Syn. -- Scant; narrow; small; poor; deficient; meager; scarce; chary; sparing; parsimonious; penurious; niggardly; grudging.

SCAPE Scape, n. Etym: [L. scapus shaft, stem, stalk; cf. Gr. scape. Cf. Scepter.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A peduncle rising from the ground or from a subterranean stem, as in the stemless violets, the bloodroot, and the like.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The long basal joint of the antennæ of an insect.

3. (Arch.) (a) The shaft of a column. (b) The apophyge of a shaft.

SCAPE Scape, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Scaped; p. pr. & vb. n. Scaping.] Etym: [Aphetic form of escape.]

Defn: To escape. [Obs. or Poetic.] Milton. Out of this prison help that we may scape. Chaucer.

SCAPE Scape, n.

1. An escape. [Obs.] I spake of most disastrous chances, . . . Of hairbreadth scapes in the imminent, deadly breach. Shak.

2. Means of escape; evasion. [Obs.] Donne.

3. A freak; a slip; a fault; an escapade. [Obs.] Not pardoning so much as the scapes of error and ignorance. Milton.

4. Loose act of vice or lewdness. [Obs.] Shak.

SCAPEGALLOWS Scape"gal`lows, n.

Defn: One who has narrowly escaped the gallows for his crimes. [Colloq.] Dickens.

SCAPEGOAT Scape"goat`, n. Etym: [Scape (for escape) + goat.]

1. (Jewish Antiq.)

Defn: A goat upon whose head were symbolically placed the sins of the people, after which he was suffered to escape into the wilderness. Lev. xvi. 10.

2. Hence, a person or thing that is made to bear blame for others. Tennyson.

SCAPEGRACE Scape"grace`, n.

Defn: A graceless, unprincipled person; one who is wild and reckless. Beaconsfield.

SCAPELESS Scape"less, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Destitute of a scape.

SCAPEMENT Scape"ment, n. Etym: [See Scape, v., Escapement.]

Defn: Same as Escapement, 3.

SCAPE-WHEEL Scape"-wheel`, n. (Horol.)

Defn: the wheel in an escapement (as of a clock or a watch) into the teeth of which the pallets play.

SCAPHANDER Sca*phan"der, n. Etym: [Gr. scaphandre.]

Defn: The case, or impermeable apparel, in which a diver can work while under water.

SCAPHISM Scaph"ism, n. Etym: [Gr. ska`fh a trough.]

Defn: An ancient mode of punishing criminals among the Persians, by confining the victim in a trough, with his head and limbs smeared with honey or the like, and exposed to the sun and to insects until he died.

SCAPHITE Scaph"ite, n. Etym: [L. scapha a boat, fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: Any fossil cephalopod shell of the genus Scaphites, belonging to the Ammonite family and having a chambered boat-shaped shell. Scaphites are found in the Cretaceous formation.

SCAPHOCEPHALIC Scaph`o*ce*phal"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or affected with, scaphocephaly.

SCAPHOCEPHALY Scaph`o*ceph"a*ly, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: A deformed condition of the skull, in which the vault is narrow, clongated, and more or less boat-shaped.

SCAPHOCERITE Scaph`o*ce"rite, n. Etym: [Gr. cerite.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A flattened plate or scale attached to the second joint of the antennæ of many Crustacea.

SCAPHOGNATHITE Sca*phog"na*thite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A thin leafike appendage (the exopodite) of the second maxilla of decapod crustaceans. It serves as a pumping organ to draw the water through the gill cavity.

SCAPHOID Scaph"oid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. scaphoïde.] (Anat.)

Defn: Resembling a boat in form; boat-shaped. -- n.

Defn: The scaphoid bone. Scaphoid bone (a) One of the carpal bones, which articulates with the radius; the radiale. (b) One of the tarsal bones; the navicular bone. See under Navicular.

SCAPHOLUNAR Scaph`o*lu"nar, a. Etym: [Scaphoid + lunar.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the scaphoid and lunar bones of the carpus. -- n.

Defn: The scapholunar bone. Scapholunar bone, a bone formed by the coalescence of the scaphoid and lunar in the carpus of carnivora.

SCAPHOPODA Sca*phop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A class of marine cephalate Mollusca having a tubular shell open at both ends, a pointed or spadelike foot for burrowing, and many long, slender, prehensile oral tentacles. It includes Dentalium, or the tooth shells, and other similar shells. Called also Prosopocephala, and Solenoconcha.

SCAPIFORM Sca"pi*form, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling scape, or flower stm.

SCAPOLITE Scap"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. scapus a stem, sta-lite: cf. F. scapolite.] (Mon.)

Defn: A grayish white mineral occuring in tetragonal crystals and in cleavable masses. It is esentially a silicate of aluminia and soda.

Note: The scapolite group includes scapolite proper, or wernerite, also meionite, dipyre, etc.

SCAPPLE Scap"ple, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. eskaper, eschapler, to cut, hew, LL. scapellare. Cf. Scabble.] (a) To work roughly, or shape without finishing, as stone before leaving the quarry. (b) To dress in any way short of fine tooling or rubbing, as stone. Gwilt.

SCAPULA Scap"u*la, n.; pl. L. Scapulæ, E. Scapuolas. Etym: [L.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The principal bone of the shoulder girdle in mammals; the shoulder blade.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the plates from which the arms of a crinoid arise.

SCAPULAR Scap"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. scapulaire. Cf. Scapulary.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the scapula or the shoulder Scapular arch (Anat.), the pectoral arch. See under pectoral. -- Scapular region, or Scapular tract (Zoöl.), a definite longitudinal area over the shoulder and along each side of the back of a bird, from which the scapular feathers arise.

SCAPULAR Scap"u*lar, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a special group of feathers which arise from each of the scapular regions and lie along the sides of the back.

SCAPULAR; SCAPULARY Scap"u*lar, Scap"u*la*ry, n. Etym: [F. scapulaire, LL. scapularium, scapulare, fr. L.scapula shoulder blade.]

1. (R.C.Ch.) (a) A loose sleeveless vestment falling in front and behind, worn by certain religious orders and devout persons. (b) The name given to two pieces of cloth worn under the ordinary garb and over the shoulders as an act of devotion. Addis & Arnold.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: A bandage passing over the shoulder to support it, or to retain another bandage in place.

SCAPULARY Scap"u*la*ry, a.

Defn: Same as Scapular, a.

SCAPULARY Scap"u*la*ry, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as 2d and 3d Scapular.

SCAPULET Scap"u*let, n. Etym: [Dim. of scapula.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A secondary mouth fold developed at the base of each of the armlike lobes of the manubrium of many rhizostome medusæ. See Illustration in Appendix.

SCAPULO- Scap"u*lo- (.

Defn: A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the scapula or the shoulder; as, the scapulo- clavicular articulation, the articulation between the scapula and clavicle.

SCAPUS Sca"pus, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: See 1st Scape.

SCAR Scar, n. Etym: [OF. escare, F. eschare an eschar, a dry slough (cf. It. & Sp. escara), L. eschara, fr. Gr. Eschar.]

1. A mark in the skin or flesh of an animal, made by a wound or ulcer, and remaining after the wound or ulcer is healed; a cicatrix; a mark left by a previous injury; a blemish; a disfigurement. This earth had the beauty of youth, . . . and not a wrinkle, scar, or fracture on all its body. T. Burnet.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A mark left upon a stem or branch by the fall of a leaf, leaflet, or frond, or upon a seed by the separation of its support. See Illust. under Axillary.

SCAR Scar, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Scarring.]

Defn: To mark with a scar or scars. Yet I'll not shed her blood; Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow. Shak. His cheeks were deeply scarred. Macaulay.

SCAR Scar, v. i.

Defn: To form a scar.

SCAR Scar, n. Etym: [Scot. scar, scaur, Icel. sker a skerry, an isolated rock in the sea; akin to Dan. skiær, Sw. skär. Cf. Skerry.]

Defn: An isolated or protruding rock; a steep, rocky eminence; a bare place on the side of a mountain or steep bank of earth. [Written also scaur.] O sweet and far, from cliff and scar, The horns of Elfland faintly blowing. Tennyson.

SCAR Scar, n. Etym: [L. scarus, a kind of fish, Gr. ska`ros.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine food fish, the scarus, or parrot fish.

SCARAB; SCARABEE Scar"ab, Scar"a*bee, n. Etym: [L. scarabeus; cf. F. scarabée.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of lamellicorn beetles of the genus Scarabæus, or family Scarabæidæ, especially the sacred, or Egyptian, species (Scarabæus sacer, and S. Egyptiorum).

SCARABAEUS Scar`a*bæ"us, n. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Scarab.

SCARABOID Scar"a*boid, a. Etym: [Scarab + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Scarabæidæ, an extensive group which includes the Egyptian scarab, the tumbleding, and many similar lamellicorn beetles.

SCARABOID Scar"a*boid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A scaraboid beetle.

SCARAMOUCH Scar"a*mouch`, n. Etym: [F. scaramouche, It.scaramuccio, scaramuccia, originally the name of a celebrated Italian comedian; cf. It. scaramuccia, scaramuccio, F. escarmouche, skirmish. Cf. Skirmish.]

Defn: A personage in the old Italian comedy (derived from Spain) characterized by great boastfulness and poltroonery; hence, a person of like characteristics; a buffoon.