Chapter CCCXCV: Prologue (46)

1. Full ofscrupules; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act, from a fear of offending or of doing wrong. Abusing their liberty, to the offense of their weak brethren which were scrupulous. Hooker.

2. Careful; cautious; exact; nice; as, scrupulous abstinence from labor; scrupulous performance of duties.

3. Given to making objections; captious. [Obs.] Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction. Shak.

4. Liable to be doubted; doubtful; nice. [Obs.] The justice of that cause ought to be evident; not obscrure, not scrupulous. Bacon.

Syn. -- Cautious; careful; conscientious; hesitating. -- Scru"pu*lous*ly, adv. -- Scru"pu*lous*ness, n.

SCRUTABLE Scru"ta*ble, a.

Defn: Discoverable by scrutiny, inquiry, or critical examination. [R.] r. H. More.

SCRUTATION Scru*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. scrutatio.]

Defn: Search; scrutiny. [Obs.]

SCRUTATOR Scru*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who scrutinizes; a close examiner or inquirer. Ayliffe.

SCRUTIN DE LISTE Scru`tin" de liste" (skrus`taN" de lest). [F., voting by list.]

Defn: Voting for a group of candidates for the same kind of office on one ticket or ballot, containing a list of them; -- the method, used in France, as from June, 1885, to Feb., 1889, in elections for the Chamber of Deputies, each elector voting for the candidates for the whole department in which he lived, as disting. from scrutin d'arrondissement (da`rôN`des`mäN"), or voting by each elector for the candidate or candidates for his own arrondissement only.

SCRUTINEER Scru`ti*neer, n.

Defn: A scrutinizer; specifically, an examiner of votes, as at an election.

SCRUTINIZE Scru"ti*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scrutinized; p. pr. & vb. n. Scrutinizing.] Etym: [From Scrutiny.]

Defn: To examine closely; to inspect or observe with critical attention; to regard narrowly; as, to scrutinize the measures of administration; to scrutinize the conduct or motives of individuals. Whose votes they were obliged to scrutinize. Ayliffe. Thscrutinized his face the closest. G. W. Cable.

SCRUTINIZE Scru"ti*nize, v. i.

Defn: To make scrutiny.

SCRUTINIZER Scru"ti*ni`zer, n.

Defn: One who scrutinizes.

SCRUTINOUS Scru"ti*nous, a.

Defn: Closely examining, or inquiring; careful; sctrict. -- Scru"ti*nous*ly, adv.

SCRUTINY Scru"ti*ny, n. Etym: [L. scrutinium, fr. scrutari to search carefuly, originally, to search even to the rags, fr. scruta trash, trumpery; perhaps akin to E. shred: cf. AS. scrudnian to make scrutiny.]

1. Close examination; minute inspection; critical observation. They that have designed exactness and deep scrutiny have taken some one part of nature. Sir M. Hale. Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view And narrower scrutiny. Milton.

2. (Anc. Church)

Defn: An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.

3. (Canon Law)

Defn: A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.

4. (Parliamentary Practice)

Defn: An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll. Brande & C.

SCRUTINY Scru"ti*ny, v. t.

Defn: To scrutinize. [Obs.]

SCRUTOIRE Scru*toire", n. Etym: [OF. escritoire. See Escritoire.]

Defn: A escritoire; a writing desk.

SCRUZE Scruze, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Excruciate.]

Defn: To squeeze, compress, crush, or bruise. [Obs. or Low] Spenser.

SCRY Scry, v. t.

Defn: To descry. [Obs.] Spenser.

SCRY Scry, n. Etym: [From Scry, v.]

Defn: A flock of wild fowl.

SCRY Scry, n. Etym: [OE. ascrie, fr. ascrien to cry out, fr. OF. escrier, F. s'écrier. See Ex-, and Cry.]

Defn: A cry or shout. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.

SCUD Scud, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scudded; p. pr. & vb. n. Scudding.] Etym: [Dan. skyde to shoot, shove, push, akin to skud shot, gunshot, a shoot, young bough, and to E. shoot. sq. root159. See Shoot.]

1. To move swiftly; especially, to move as if driven forward by something. The first nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm primeval oceans. I. Taylor. The wind was high; the vast white clouds scudded over the blue heaven. Beaconsfield.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To be driven swiftly, or to run, before a gale, with little or no sail spread.

SCUD Scud, v. t.

Defn: To pass over quickly. [R.] Shenstone.

SCUD Scud, n.

1. The act of scudding; a driving along; a rushing with precipitation.

2. Loose, vapory clouds driven swiftly by the wind. Borne on the scud of the sea. Longfellow. The scud was flying fast above us, throwing a veil over the moon. Sir S. Baker.

3. A slight, sudden shower. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small flight of larks, or other birds, less than a flock. [Prov. Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any swimming amphipod crustacean. Storm scud. See the Note under Cloud.

SCUDDLE Scud"dle, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of scud: cf. Scuttle to hurry.]

Defn: To run hastily; to hurry; to scuttle.

SCUDO Scu"do, n.; pl. Scudi. Etym: [It., a crown, a dollar, a shield, fr. L. scutum a shield. Cf. Scute.] (Com.) (a) A silver coin, and money of account, used in Italy and Sicily, varying in value, in different parts, but worth about 4 shillings sterling, or about 96 cents; also, a gold coin worth about the same. (b) A gold coin of Rome, worth 64 shillings 11 pence sterling, or about $ 15.70.

SCUFF Scuff, n. Etym: [Cf. D. schoft shoulder, Goth. skuft hair of the head. Cf. Scruff.]

Defn: The back part of the neck; the scruff. [Prov. Eng.] Ld. Lytton.

SCUFF Scuff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scuffing.] Etym: [See Scuffle.]

Defn: To walk without lifting the feet; to proceed with a scraping or dragging movement; to shuffle.

SCUFFLE Scuf"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scuffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scuffling.] Etym: [Freq. of scuff, v.i.; cf. Sw. skuffa to push, shove, skuff a push, Dan. skuffe a drawer, a shovel, and E. shuffle, shove. See Shove, and cf. Shuffle.]

1. To strive or struggle with a close grapple; to wrestle in a rough fashion.

2. Hence, to strive or contend tumultuously; to struggle confusedly or at haphazard. A gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantage in the field, in an orderly way, than scuffle with an undisciplined rabble. Eikon Basilike.

SCUFFLE Scuf"fle, n.

1. A rough, haphazard struggle, or trial of strength; a disorderly wrestling at close quarters.

2. Hence, a confused contest; a tumultuous struggle for superiority; a fight. The dog leaps upon the serpent, and tears it to pieces; but in the scuffle the cradle happened to be overturned. L'Estrange.

3. A child's pinafore or bib. [Prov. Eng.]

4. A garden hoe. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCUFFLER Scuf"fler, n.

1. One who scuffles.

2. An agricultural implement resembling a scarifier, but usually lighter.

SCUG Scug, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. skugge to darken, a shade, SW. skugga to shade, a shade, Icel. skuggja to shade, skuggi a shade.]

Defn: To hide. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCUG Scug, n.

Defn: A place of shelter; the declivity of a hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCULK; SCULKER Sculk, Sculk"er.

Defn: See Skulk, Skulker.

SCULL Scull, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The skull. [Obs.]

SCULL Scull, n. Etym: [See 1st School.]

Defn: A shoal of fish. Milton.

SCULL Scull, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. skola to wash.]

1. (Naut.) (a) A boat; a cockboat. See Sculler. (b) One of a pair of short oars worked by one person. (c) A single oar used at the stern in propelling a boat.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common skua gull. [Prov. Eng.]

SCULL Scull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sculled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sculling.] (Naut.)

Defn: To impel (a boat) with a pair of sculls, or with a single scull or oar worked over the stern obliquely from side to side.

SCULL Scull, v. i.

Defn: To impel a boat with a scull or sculls.

SCULLER Scull"er, n.

1. A boat rowed by one man with two sculls, or short oars. [R.] Dryden.

2. One who sculls.

SCULLERY Scul"ler*y, n.; pl. Sculleries. Etym: [Probably originally, a place for washing dishes, and for swillery, fr. OE. swilen to wash, AS. swilian (see Swill to wash, to drink), but influenced either by Icel. skola, skyla, Dan. skylle, or by OF. escuelier a place for keeping dishes, fr. escuele a dish, F. écuelle, fr. L. scutella a salver, waiter (cf. Scuttle a basket); or perhaps the English word is immediately from the OF. escuelier; cf. OE. squyllare a dishwasher.]

1. A place where dishes, kettles, and culinary utensils, are cleaned and kept; also, a room attached to the kitchen, where the coarse work is done; a back kitchen.

2. Hence, refuse; fifth; offal. [Obs.] auden.

SCULLION Scul"lion, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A scalion.

SCULLION Scul"lion, n. Etym: [OF. escouillon (Cot.) a dishclout, apparently for escouvillon, F. écouvillon a swab; cf. also OF. souillon a servant employed for base offices. Cf. Scovel.]

Defn: A servant who cleans pots and kettles, and does other menial services in the kitchen. The meanest scullion that followed his camp. South.

SCULLIONLY Scul"lion*ly, a.

Defn: Like a scullion; base. [Obs.] Milton.

SCULP Sculp, v. t. Etym: [See Sculptor.]

Defn: To sculpture; to carve; to engrave. [Obs. or Humorous.] Sandys.

SCULPIN Scul"pin, n. Etym: [Written also skulpin.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of marine cottoid fishes of the genus Cottus, or Acanthocottus, having a large head armed with sharp spines, and a broad mouth. They are generally mottled with yellow, brown, and black. Several species are found on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and America. (b) A large cottoid market fish of California (Scorpænichthys marmoratus); -- called also bighead, cabezon, scorpion, salpa. (c) The dragonet, or yellow sculpin, of Europe (Callionymus lura).

Note: The name is also applied to other related California species. Deep-water sculpin, the sea raven.

SCULPTILE Sculp"tile, a. Etym: [L. sculptilis. See Sculptor.]

Defn: Formed by carving; graven; as, sculptile images. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SCULPTOR Sculp"tor, n. Etym: [L. sculptor, fr. sculpere, sculptum, to carve; cf. scalpere to cut, carve, scratch, and Gr. sculpteur.]

1. One who sculptures; one whose occupation is to carve statues, or works of sculpture.

2. Hence, an artist who designs works of sculpture, his first studies and his finished model being usually in a plastic material, from which model the marble is cut, or the bronze is cast.

SCULPTRESS Sculp"tress, n.

Defn: A female sculptor.

SCULPTURAL Sculp"tur*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to sculpture. G. Eliot.

SCULPTURE Sculp"ture, n. Etym: [L. sculptura: cf. F. sculpture.]

1. The art of carving, cutting, or hewing wood, stone, metal, etc., into statues, ornaments, etc., or into figures, as of men, or other things; hence, the art of producing figures and groups, whether in plastic or hard materials.

2. Carved work modeled of, or cut upon, wood, stone, metal, etc. There, too, in living sculpture, might be seen The mad affection of the Cretan queen. Dryden.

SCULPTURE Sculp"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sculptured (; p. pr. & vb. n. Sculpturing.]

Defn: To form with the chisel on, in, or from, wood, stone, or metal; to carve; to engrave. Sculptured tortoise (Zoöl.), a common North American wood tortoise (Glyptemys insculpta). The shell is marked with strong grooving and ridges which resemble sculptured figures.

SCULPTURESQUE Sculp`tur*esque", a.

Defn: After the manner of sculpture; resembling, or relating to, sculpture.

SCUM Scum, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. skum, Icel. sk, LG. schum, D. schuim, OHG. sc, G. schaum; probably from a root meaning, to cover. sq. root158. Cf. Hide skin, Meerschaum, Skim, v., Sky.]

1. The extraneous matter or impurities which rise to the surface of liquids in boiling or fermentation, or which form on the surface by other means; also, the scoria of metals in a molten state; dross. Some to remove the scum it did rise. Spenser.

2. refuse; recrement; anything vile or worthless. The great and innocent are insulted by the scum and refuse of the people. Addison.

SCUM Scum, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scumming.]

1. To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim. You that scum the molten lead. Dryden & Lee.

2. To sweep or range over the surface of. [Obs.] Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates. Milton.

SCUM Scum, v. i.

Defn: To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively. Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over. A. K. H. Boyd.

SCUMBER Scum"ber, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Discumber.]

Defn: To void excrement. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Massinger.

SCUMBER Scum"ber, n.

Defn: Dung. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SCUMBLE Scum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scumbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scumbling.] Etym: [Freq. of scum. sq. root 158.] (Fine Arts)

Defn: To cover lighty, as a painting, or a drawing, with a thin wash of opaque color, or with color-crayon dust rubbed on with the stump, or to make any similar additions to the work, so as to produce a softened effect.

SCUMBLING Scum"bling, n.

1. (Fine Arts) (a) A mode of obtaining a softened effect, in painting and drawing, by the application of a thin layer of opaque color to the surface of a painting, or part of the surface, which is too bright in color, or which requires harmonizing. (b) In crayon drawing, the use of the stump.

2. The color so laid on. Also used figuratively. Shining above the brown scumbling of leafless orchards. L. Wallace.

SCUMMER Scum"mer, v. i.

Defn: To scumber. [Obs.] Holland.

SCUMMER Scum"mer, n.

Defn: Excrement; scumber. [Obs.]

SCUMMER Scum"mer, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. escumoire, F. écumoire. See Scum, and cf. Skimmer.]

Defn: An instrument for taking off scum; a skimmer.

SCUMMING Scum"ming, n. (a) The act of taking off scum. (b) That which is scummed off; skimmings; scum; -- used chiefly in the plural.

SCUMMY Scum"my, a.

Defn: Covered with scum; of the nature of scum. Sir P. Sidney.

SCUNNER Scun"ner, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Shun.]

Defn: To cause to loathe, or feel disgust at. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

SCUNNER Scun"ner, v. i.

Defn: To have a feeling of loathing or disgust; hence, to have dislike, prejudice, or reluctance. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] C. Kingsley.

SCUNNER Scun"ner, n.

Defn: A feeling of disgust or loathing; a strong prejudice; abhorrence; as, to take a scunner against some one. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Carlyle.

SCUP Scup, n. Etym: [D. schop.]

Defn: A swing. [Local, U.S.]

SCUP Scup, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. American Indian mishcùp, fr. mishe-kuppi large, thick-scaled.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine sparoid food fish (Stenotomus chrysops, or S. argyrops), common on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It appears bright silvery when swimming in the daytime, but shows broad blackish transverse bands at night and when dead. Called also porgee, paugy, porgy, scuppaug.

Note: The same names are also applied to a closely allied Southern species. (Stenotomus Gardeni).

SCUPPAUG Scup"paug, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. Amer. Indian mishcuppauog, pl. of mishcup.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 2d Scup.

SCUPPER Scup"per, n. Etym: [OF. escopir, escupir, to spit, perhaps for escospir, L. ex + conspuere to spit upon; pref. con- + spuere to spit. Cf. Spit, v.] (Naut.)

Defn: An opening cut through the waterway and bulwarks of a ship, so that water falling on deck may flow overboard; -- called also scupper hole.

Scupper hose (Naut.), a pipe of leather, canvas, etc., attached to the mouth of the scuppers, on the outside of a vessel, to prevent the water from entering. Totten. -- Scupper nail (Naut.), a nail with a very broad head, for securing the edge of the hose to the scupper. -- Scupper plug (Naut.), a plug to stop a scupper. Totten.

SCUPPERNONG Scup"per*nong, n. Etym: [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Bot.)

Defn: An American grape, a form of Vitis vulpina, found in the Southern Atlantic States, and often cultivated.

SCUR Scur, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Scour to run.]

Defn: To move hastily; to scour. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCURF Scurf, n. Etym: [AS. scurf, sceorf, or from Scand.; cf. Sw. skorf, Dan. skurv, Icel. skurfur, D. schurft, G. schorf; all akin to AS. scurf, and to AS. sceorfan to scrape, to gnaw, G. schürfen to scrape, and probably also to E. scrape. Cf. Scurvy.]

1. Thin dry scales or scabs upon the body; especially, thin scales exfoliated from the cuticle, particularly of the scalp; dandruff.

2. Hence, the foul remains of anything adherent. The scurf is worn away of each committed crime. Dryden.

3. Anything like flakes or scales adhering to a surface. There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire Shone with a glossy scurf. Milton.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot. Gray.

SCURFF Scurff, n.

Defn: The bull trout. [Prov. Eng.]

SCURFINESS Scurf"i*ness, n.

1. Quality or state of being scurfy.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Scurf.

SCURFY Scurf"y, a. [Compar. Scurfier; superl. Scurfiest.]

Defn: Having or producing scurf; covered with scurf; resembling scurf.

SCURRIER Scur"ri*er, n.

Defn: One who scurries.

SCURRILE Scur"rile, a. Etym: [L. scurrilis, fr. scurra a bufoon, jester: cf. F. scurrile.]

Defn: Such as befits a buffoon or vulgar jester; grossly opprobrious or loudly jocose in language; scurrilous; as, scurrile taunts. The wretched affectation of scurrile laughter. Cowley. A scurrile or obscene jest will better advance you at the court of Charles than father's ancient name. Sir W. Scott.

SCURRILITY Scur*ril"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. scurrilitas: cf. F.scurrilité.]

1. The quality or state of being scurrile or scurrilous; mean, vile, or obscene jocularity. Your reasons . . . have been sharp and sententious, pleasant without scurrility. Shak.

2. That which is scurrile or scurrilous; gross or obscene language; low buffoonery; vulgar abuse. Interrupting prayers and sermons with clamor and scurrility. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Scurrilousness; abuse; insolence; vulgarity; indecency.

SCURRILOUS Scur"ril*ous, a. Etym: [See Scurrile.]

1. Using the low and indecent language of the meaner sort of people, or such as only the license of buffoons can warrant; as, a scurrilous fellow.

2. Containing low indecency or abuse; mean; foul; vile; obscenely jocular; as, scurrilous language. The absurd and scurrilous sermon which had very unwisely been honored with impeachment. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Opprobrious; abusive; reproachful; insulting; insolent; offensive; gross; vile; vulgar; low; foul; foul-mounthed; indecent; scurrile; mean. -- Scur"ril*ous*ly, adv. -- Scur"ril*ous*ness, n.

SCURRIT Scur"rit, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the lesser tern (Sterna minuta). [Prov. Eng.]

SCURRY Scur"ry, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Scur, Skirr.]

Defn: To hasten away or along; to move rapidly; to hurry; as, the rabbit scurried away.

SCURRY Scur"ry, n.

Defn: Act of scurring; hurried movement.

SCURVILY Scur"vi*ly, adv.

Defn: In a scurvy manner.

SCURVINESS Scur"vi*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being scurvy; vileness; meanness.

SCURVY Scur"vy, a. [Compar. Scurvier; superl. Scurviest.] Etym: [From Scurf; cf. Scurvy, n.]

1. Covered or affected with scurf or scabs; scabby; scurfy; specifically, diseased with the scurvy. "Whatsoever man . . . be scurvy or scabbed." lev. xxi. 18, 20.

2. Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible. "A scurvy trick." Ld. Lytton. That scurvy custom of taking tobacco. Swift. [He] spoke spoke such scurvy and provoking terms. Shak.

SCURVY Scur"vy, n. Etym: [Probably from the same source as scirbute, but influenced by scurf, scurfy, scurvy, adj.; cf. D. scheurbuik scurvy, G. scharbock, LL. scorbutus. Cf. Scorbute.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease characterized by livid spots, especially about the thighs and legs, due to extravasation of blood, and by spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all the mucous membranes. It is accompanied by paleness, languor, depression, and general debility. It is occasioned by confinement, innutritious food, and hard labor, but especially by lack of fresh vegetable food, or confinement for a long time to a limited range of food, which is incapable of repairing the waste of the system. It was formerly prevalent among sailors and soldiers. Scurvy grass Etym: [Scurvy + grass; or cf. Icel. skarfakal scurvy grass.] (Bot.) A kind of cress (Cochlearia officinalis) growing along the seacoast of Northern Europe and in arctic regions. It is a remedy for the scurvy, and has proved a valuable food to arctic explorers. The name is given also to other allied species of plants.

SCUT Scut, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skott a fox's tail. sq. root 159.] [Obs.]

Defn: The tail of a hare, or of a deer, or other animal whose tail is short, sp. when carried erect; hence, sometimes, the animal itself. "He ran like a scut." Skelton. How the Indian hare came to have a long tail, wheras that part in others attains no higher than a scut. Sir T. Browne. My doe with the black scut. Shak.

SCUTA Scu"ta, n. pl.

Defn: See Scutum.

SCUTAGE Scu"tage (; 48), n. Etym: [LL. scutagium, from L. scutum a shield.] (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: Shield money; commutation of service for a sum of money. See Escuage.

SCUTAL Scu"tal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a shield. A good example of these scutal monstrosities. Cussans.

SCUTATE Scu"tate, a. Etym: [L. scutatus armed with a shield, from scutum a shield.]

1. Buckler-shaped; round or nearly round.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Protected or covered by bony or horny plates, or large scales.

SCUTCH Scutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scutched; p. pr. & vb. n. Scutching.] Etym: [See Scotch to cut slightly.]

1. To beat or whip; to drub. [Old or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. To separate the woody fiber from (flax, hemp, etc.) by beating; to swingle.

3. To loosen and dress the fiber of (cotton or silk) by beating; to free (fibrous substances) from dust by beating and blowing. Scutching machine, a machine used to scutch cotton, silk, or flax; -- called also batting machine.

SCUTCH Scutch, n.

1. A wooden instrument used in scutching flax and hemp.

2. The woody fiber of flax; the refuse of scutched flax. "The smoke of the burning scutch." Cuthbert Bede.

SCUTCHEON Scutch"eon, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of escutcheon.]

1. An escutcheon; an emblazoned shield. Bacon. The corpse lay in state, with all the pomp of scutcheons, wax lights, black hangings, and mutes. Macaulay.

2. A small plate of metal, as the shield around a keyhole. See Escutcheon, 4.

SCUTCHEONED Scutch"eoned, a.

Defn: Emblazoned on or as a shield. Scutcheoned panes in cloisters old. Lowell.

SCUTCHER Scutch"er, n.

1. One who scutches.

2. An implement or machine for scutching hemp, flax, or cotton; etc.; a scutch; a scutching machine.

SCUTCH GRASS Scutch" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of pasture grass (Cynodon Dactylon). See Bermuda grass: also Illustration in Appendix.

SCUTE Scute, n. Etym: [L. scutum a shield, a buckler. See Scudo.]

1. A small shield. [Obs.] Skelton.

2. An old French gold coin of the value of 3s. 4d. sterling, or about 80 cents.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bony scale of a reptile or fish; a large horny scale on the leg of a bird, or on the belly of a snake.

SCUTELLA Scu*tel"la, n. pl.

Defn: See Scutellum.

SCUTELLA Scu*tel"la, n.; pl. Scutelle. Etym: [NL., fem. dim. of L. scutum.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Scutellum, n., 2.

SCUTELLATE; SCUTELLATED Scu"tel*late, Scu"tel*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. scutella a dish, salver. Cf. Scuttle a basket.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Formed like a plate or salver; composed of platelike surfaces; as, the scutellated bone of a sturgeon. Woodward.

2. Etym: [See Scutellum.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the tarsi covered with broad transverse scales, or scutella; -- said of certain birds.

SCUTELLATION Scu`tel*la"tion, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the entire covering, or mode of arrangement, of scales, as on the legs and feet of a bird.

SCUTELLIFORM Scu*tel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. scutella a dish + -form.]

1. Scutellate.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a scutellum.

SCUTELLIPLANTAR Scu*tel`li*plan"tar, a. Etym: [L. scutellus a shield + planta foot.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having broad scutella on the front, and small scales on the posterior side, of the tarsus; -- said of certain birds.

SCUTELLUM Scu*tel"lum, n.; pl. Scutella. Etym: [NL., neut. dim. of L. scutum a shield.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A rounded apothecium having an elevated rim formed of the proper thallus, the fructification of certain lichens.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The third of the four pieces forming the upper part of a thoracic segment of an insect. It follows the scutum, and is followed by the small postscutellum; a scutella. See Thorax. (b) One of the transverse scales on the tarsi and toes of birds; a scutella.

SCUTIBRANCH Scu"ti*branch, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Scutibranchiate. -- n.

Defn: One of the Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIBRANCHIA Scu`ti*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIBRANCHIAN Scu`ti*bran"chi*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIBRANCHIATA Scu`ti*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Scutum, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of gastropod Mollusca having a heart with two auricles and one ventricle. The shell may be either spiral or shieldlike.

Note: It is now usually regarded as including only the Rhipidoglossa and the Docoglossa. When originally established, it included a heterogenous group of mollusks having shieldlike shells, such as Haliotis, Fissurella, Carinaria, etc.

SCUTIBRANCHIATE Scu`ti*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the gills protected by a shieldlike shell; of or pertaining to the Scutibranchiata. -- n.

Defn: One of the Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIFEROUS Scu*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. scutum shield + -ferous.]

Defn: Carrying a shield or buckler.

SCUTIFORM Scu"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. scutum shield + -form: cf. F. scutiforme.]

Defn: Shield-shaped; scutate.

SCUTIGER Scu"ti*ger, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. scutum shield + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of chilopod myriapods of the genus Scutigera. They sometimes enter buildings and prey upon insects.

SCUTIPED Scu"ti*ped, a. Etym: [L. scutum a shield + pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. scutipède.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the anterior surface of the tarsus covered with scutella, or transverse scales, in the form of incomplete bands terminating at a groove on each side; -- said of certain birds.

SCUTTER Scut"ter, v. i. [Cf. Scuttle, v. i.]

Defn: To run quickly; to scurry; to scuttle. [Prov. Eng.]

A mangy little jackal . . . cocked up his ears and tail, and scuttered across the shallows. Kipling.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, n. Etym: [AS. scutel a dish, platter; cf. Icel. skutill; both fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish or platter; cf. scutum a shield. Cf. Skillet.]

1. A broad, shallow basket.

2. A wide-mouthed vessel for holding coal: a coal hod.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, v. i. Etym: [For scuddle, fr. scud.]

Defn: To run with affected precipitation; to hurry; to bustle; to scuddle. With the first dawn of day, old Janet was scuttling about the house to wake the baron. Sir W. Scott.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, n.

Defn: A quick pace; a short run. Spectator.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, n. Etym: [OF. escoutille, F. éscoutille, cf. Sp. escotilla; probably akin to Sp. escoter to cut a thing so as to make it fit, to hollow a garment about the neck, perhaps originally, to cut a bosom- shaped piece out, and of Teutonic origin; cf. D. schoot lap, bosom, G. schoss, Goth. skauts the hem of a garnment. Cf. Sheet an expanse.]

1. A small opening in an outside wall or covering, furnished with a lid. Specifically: (a) (Naut.) A small opening or hatchway in the deck of a ship, large enough to admit a man, and with a lid for covering it, also, a like hole in the side or bottom of a ship. (b) An opening in the roof of a house, with a lid.

2. The lid or door which covers or closes an opening in a roof, wall, or the like. Scuttle butt, or Scuttle cask (Naut.), a butt or cask with a large hole in it, used to contain the fresh water for daily use in a ship. Totten.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scuttled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scuttling.]

1. To cut a hole or holes through the bottom, deck, or sides of (as of a ship), for any purpose.

2. To sink by making holes through the bottom of; as, to scuttle a ship.

SCUTUM Scu"tum, n.; pl. Scuta. Etym: [L.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: An oblong shield made of boards or wickerwork covered with leather, with sometimes an iron rim; -- carried chiefly by the heavy- armed infantry.

2. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A penthouse or awning. [Obs.] Burrill.

3. (Zoöl.) (a) The second and largest of the four parts forming the upper surface of a thoracic segment of an insect. It is preceded by the prescutum and followed by the scutellum. See the Illust. under Thorax. (b) One of the two lower valves of the operculum of a barnacle.

SCYBALA Scyb"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Hardened masses of feces.

SCYE Scye, n.

Defn: Arm scye, a cutter's term for the armhole or part of the armhole of the waist of a garnment. [Cant]

SCYLE Scyle, v. t. Etym: [AS. scylan to withdraw or remowe.]

Defn: To hide; to secrete; to conceal. [Obs.]

SCYLLA Scyl"la, n.

Defn: A dangerous rock on the Italian coast opposite the whirpool Charybdis on the coast of Sicily, -- both personified in classical literature as ravenous monsters. The passage between them was formerly considered perilous; hence, the saying "Between Scylla and Charybdis," signifying a great peril on either hand.

SCYLLAEA Scyl*læ"a, n. Etym: [NL. See Scylla.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of oceanic nudibranchiate mollusks having the small branched gills situated on the upper side of four fleshy lateral lobes, and on the median caudal crest.

Note: In color and form these mollusks closely imitate the fronds of sargassum and other floathing seaweeds among which they live.

SCYLLARIAN Scyl*la"ri*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a family (Scyllaridæ) of macruran Crustacea, remarkable for the depressed form of the body, and the broad, flat antennæ. Also used adjectively.

SCYLLITE Scyl"lite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance of a sweetish taste, resembling inosite and metameric with dextrose. It is extracted from the kidney of the dogfish (of the genus Scylium), the shark, and the skate.

SCYMETAR Scym"e*tar, n.

Defn: See Scimiter.

SCYPHA Scy"pha, n.; pl. Scyphae. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Scyphus, 2 (b).

SCYPHIFORM Scy"phi*form, a. Etym: [L. scyphus a cup + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Cup-shaped.

SCYPHISTOMA Scy*phis"to*ma, n.; pl. Scyphistomata, Scyphistomæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The young attached larva of Discophora in the stage when it resembles a hydroid, or actinian.

SCYPHOBRANCHII Scy`pho*bran"chi*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fishes including the blennioid and gobioid fishes, and other related families.

SCYPHOMEDUSA; SCYPHOMEDUSAE Scy`pho*me*du"sa, Scy`pho*me*du"sae, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. medusa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Acraspeda, or Discophora.

SCYPHOPHORI Scy*phoph"o*ri, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fresh-water fishes inhabiting tropical Africa. They have rudimentary electrical organs on each side of the tail.

SCYPHUS Scy"phus, n.; pl. Scyphi. Etym: [L., a cup, Gr.

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: A kind of large drinking cup, -- used by Greeks and Romans, esp. by poor folk.

2. (Bot.) (a) The cup of a narcissus, or a similar appendage to the corolla in other flowers. (b) A cup-shaped stem or podetium in lichens. Also called scypha. See Illust. of Cladonia pyxidata, under Lichen.

SCYTHE Scythe (sith), n. Etym: [OE. sithe, AS. si\'ebe, sigthe; akin to Icel. sigthr a sickle, LG. segd, seged, seed, seid, OHG. segansa sickle, scythe, G. sense scythe, and to E. saw a cutting instrument. See Saw.] [Written also sithe and sythe.]

1. An instrument for mowing grass, grain, or the like, by hand, composed of a long, curving blade, with a sharp edge, made fast to a long handle, called a snath, which is bent into a form convenient for use. The sharp-edged scythe shears up the spiring grass. Dryden. The scythe of Time mows down. Milton.

2. (Antiq.)

Defn: A scythe-shaped blade attached to ancient war chariots.

SCYTHE Scythe, v. t.

Defn: To cut with a scythe; to cut off as with a scythe; to mow. [Obs.] Time had not scythed all that youth begun. Shak.

SCYTHED Scythed, a.

Defn: Armed scythes, as a chariot. Chariots scythed, On thundering axles rolled. Glover.

SCYTHEMAN Scythe"man, n.; pl. Scythemen (.

Defn: One who uses a scythe; a mower. Macaulay.

SCYTHESTONE Scythe"stone`, n.

Defn: A stone for sharpening scythes; a whetstone.

SCYTHEWHET Scythe"whet`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Wilson's thrush; -- so called from its note. [Local, U.S.]

SCYTHIAN Scyth"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Scythia (a name given to the northern part of Asia, and Europe adjoining to Asia), or its language or inhabitants. Scythian lamb. (Bot.) See Barometz.

SCYTHIAN Scyth"i*an, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of Scythia; specifically (Ethnol.), one of a Slavonic race which in early times occupied Eastern Europe.

2. The language of the Scythians.

SCYTODERMATA Scy`to*der"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Holothurioidea.

SDAIN Sdain, v. & n.

Defn: Disdain. [Obs.] Spenser.

'SDEATH 'Sdeath, interj. Etym: [Corrupted fr. God's death.]

Defn: An exclamation expressive of impatience or anger. Shak.

SDEIGN Sdeign, v. t.

Defn: To disdain. [Obs.] But either sdeigns with other to partake. Spenser.

SEA Sea, n. Etym: [OE. see, AS. sæ; akin to D. zee, OS. & OHG. seo, G. see, OFries. se, Dan. sö, Sw. sjö, Icel. sær, Goth. saiws, and perhaps to L. saevus firce, savage. sq. root 151 a.]

1. One of the larger bodies of salt water, less than an ocean, found on the earth's surface; a body of salt water of second rank, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea; as, the Mediterranean Sea; the Sea of Marmora; the North Sea; the Carribean Sea.

2. An inland body of water, esp. if large or if salt or brackish; as, the Caspian Sea; the Sea of Aral; sometimes, a small fresh-water lake; as, the Sea of Galilee.

3. The ocean; the whole body of the salt water which covers a large part of the globe. I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. Shak. Ambiguous between sea and land The river horse and scaly crocodile. Milton.

4. The swell of the ocean or other body of water in a high wind; motion of the water's surface; also, a single wave; a billow; as, there was a high sea after the storm; the vessel shipped a sea.

5. (Jewish Antiq.)

Defn: A great brazen laver in the temple at Jerusalem; -- so called from its size. He made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof. 2 Chron. iv. 2.

6. Fig.: Anything resembling the sea in vastness; as, a sea of glory. Shak. All the space . . . was one sea of heads. Macaulay.

Note: Sea is often used in the composition of words of obvious signification; as, sea-bathed, sea-beaten, sea-bound, sea-bred, sea- circled, sealike, sea-nursed, sea-tossed, sea-walled, sea-worn, and the like. It is also used either adjectively or in combination with substantives; as, sea bird, sea-bird, or seabird, sea acorn, or sea- acorn. At sea, upon the ocean; away from land; figuratively, without landmarks for guidance; lost; at the mercy of circumstances. "To say the old man was at sea would be too feeble an expression." G. W. Cable -- At full sea at the height of flood tide; hence, at the height. "But now God's mercy was at full sea." Jer. Taylor. -- Beyond seas, or Beyond the sea or the seas (Law), out of the state, territory, realm, or country. Wharton. -- Half seas over, half drunk. [Colloq.] Spectator. -- Heavy sea, a sea in which the waves run high. -- Long sea, a sea characterized by the uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves. -- Short sea, a sea in which the waves are short, broken, and irregular, so as to produce a tumbling or jerking motion. -- To go to sea, a adopt the calling or occupation of a sailor.

SEA ACORN Sea" a"corn. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An acorn barnacle (Balanus).

SEA ADDER Sea" ad"der. (Zoöl.) (a) The European fifteen-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus spinachia); -- called also bismore. (b) The European tanglefish, or pipefish (Syngnathus acus).

SEA ANCHOR Sea" an"chor. (Naut.)

Defn: See Drag sail, under 4th Drag.

SEA ANEMONE Sea" a*nem"o*ne. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of soft-bodied Anthozoa, belonging to the order Actrinaria; an actinian.

Note: They have the oral disk surrounded by one or more circles of simple tapering tentacles, which are often very numerous, and when expanded somewhat resemble the petals of flowers, with colors varied and often very beautiful.

SEA APE Sea" ape`. (Zoöl.) (a) The thrasher shark. (b) The sea otter.

SEA APPLE Sea" ap"ple. (Bot.)

Defn: The fruit of a West Indian palm (Manicaria Plukenetii), often found floating in the sea. A. Grisebach.

SEA ARROW Sea" ar"row. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A squid of the genus Ommastrephes. See Squid.

SEA BANK Sea" bank`.

1. The seashore. Shak.

2. A bank or mole to defend against the sea.

SEA-BAR Sea"-bar`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern.

SEA BARROW Sea" bar"row. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea purse.

SEA BASS Sea" bass`.

Defn: ((Zoöl.) (a) A large marine food fish (Serranus, or Centropristis, atrarius) which abounds on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It is dark bluish, with black bands, and more or less varied with small white spots and blotches. Called also, locally, blue bass, black sea bass, blackfish, bluefish, and black perch. (b) A California food fish (Cynoscion nobile); -- called also white sea bass, and sea salmon.

SEA BAT Sea" bat`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Batfish (a).

SEABEACH Sea"beach`, n.

Defn: A beach lying along the sea. "The bleak seabeach." Longfellow.

SEA BEAN Sea" bean. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Florida bean.

SEA BEAR Sea" bear`. (Zoöl.) (a) Any fur seal. See under Fur. (b) The white bear.

SEABEARD Sea"beard`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A green seaweed (Cladophora rupestris) growing in dense tufts.

SEA BEAST Sea" beast`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large marine mammal, as a seal, walrus, or cetacean.

SEA BIRD Sea" bird`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any swimming bird frequenting the sea; a sea fowl.

SEA BLITE Sea" blite`. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Suæda maritima) of the Goosefoot family, growing in salt marches.

SEA-BLUBBER Sea"-blub"ber, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A jellyfish.

SEABOARD Sea"board`, n. Etym: [Sea + board, F. bord side.]

Defn: The seashore; seacoast. Ld. Berners.

SEABOARD Sea"board`, a.

Defn: Bordering upon, or being near, the sea; seaside; seacoast; as, a seaboard town.

SEABOARD Sea"board`, adv.

Defn: Toward the sea. [R.]

SEABOAT Sea"boat`. Etym: [AS. sæbat.]

1. A boat or vessel adapted to the open sea; hence, a vessel considered with reference to her power of resisting a storm, or maintaining herself in a heavy sea; as, a good sea boat.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chitin.

SEABORD Sea"bord`, n. & a.

Defn: See Seaboard.

SEA-BORDERING Sea"-bor"der*ing, a.

Defn: Bordering on the sea; situated beside the sea. Drayton.

SEA-BORN Sea"-born`, a.

1. Born of the sea; produced by the sea. "Neptune and his sea-born niece." Waller.

2. Born at sea.

SEABOUND Sea"bound`, a.

Defn: Bounded by the sea.

SEA BOW Sea" bow`.

Defn: See Marine rainbow, under Rainbow.

SEA BOY Sea" boy`.

Defn: A boy employed on shipboard.

SEA BREACH Sea" breach`.

Defn: A breaking or overflow of a bank or a dike by the sea. L'Estrange.

SEA BREAM Sea" bream`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of sparoid fishes, especially the common European species (Pagellus centrodontus), the Spanish (P. Oweni), and the black sea bream (Cantharus lineatus); -- called also old wife.

SEA BRIEF Sea" brief`.

Defn: Same as Sea letter.

SEA BUG Sea" bug`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chiton.

SEA-BUILT Sea"-built`, a.

Defn: Built at, in, or by the sea.

SEA BUTTERFLY Sea" but"ter*fly`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pteropod.

SEA CABBAGE Sea" cab"bage (; 48). (Bot.)

Defn: See Sea kale, under Kale.

SEA CALF Sea" calf`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common seal.

SEA CANARY Sea" ca*na"ry. Etym: [So called from a whistling sound which it makes.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The beluga, or white whale.

SEA CAPTAIN Sea" cap"tain.

Defn: The captain of a vessel that sails upon the sea.

SEA CARD Sea" card`.

Defn: Mariner's card, or compass.

SEA CATFISH; SEA CAT Sea" cat`fish. Sea" cat`. (Zoöl.) (a) The wolf fish. (b) Any marine siluroid fish, as Ælurichthys marinus, and Arinus felis, of the eastern coast of the United States. Many species are found on the coasts of Central and South America.

SEA CHART Sea" chart`.

Defn: A chart or map on which the lines of the shore, islands, shoals, harbors, etc., are delineated.

SEA CHICKWEED Sea" chick"weed`. (Bot.)

Defn: A fleshy plant (Arenaria peploides) growing in large tufts in the sands of the northern Atlantic seacoast; -- called also sea sandwort, and sea purslane.

SEA CLAM Sea" clam`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of the large bivalve mollusks found on the open seacoast, especially those of the family Mactridæ, as the common American species. (Mactra, or Spisula, solidissima); -- called also beach clam, and surf clam.

SEA COAL Sea" coal`.

Defn: Coal brought by sea; -- a name by which mineral coal was formerly designated in the south of England, in distinction from charcoal, which was brought by land. Sea-coal facing (Founding), facing consisting of pulverized bituminous coal.

SEACOAST Sea"coast`, n.

Defn: The shore or border of the land adjacent to the sea or ocean. Also used adjectively.

SEA COB Sea" cob`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black-backed gull.

SEA COCK Sea" cock`.

1. In a steamship, a cock or valve close to the vessel's side, for closing a pipe which communicates with the sea.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The black-bellied plover. (b) A gurnard, as the European red gurnard (Trigla pini).

SEA COCOA Sea" co"coa. (Bot.)

Defn: A magnificent palm (Lodoicea Sechellarum) found only in the Seychelles Islands. The fruit is an immense two-lobed nut. It was found floating in the Indian Ocean before the tree was known, and called sea cocoanut, and double cocoanut.

SEA COLANDER Sea" col"an*der. (Bot.)

Defn: A large blackfish seaweed (Agarum Turneri), the frond of which is punctured with many little holes.

SEA COLEWORT Sea" cole"wort`. (Bot.)

Defn: Sea cabbage.

SEA COMPASS Sea" com"pass.

Defn: The mariner's compass. See under Compass.

SEA COOT Sea" coot`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A scoter duck.

SEA CORN Sea" corn`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A yellow cylindrical mass of egg capsule of certain species of whelks (Buccinum), which resembles an ear of maize.

SEA COW Sea" cow`. (Zoöl.) (a) The mantee. (b) The dugong. (c) The walrus.

SEA CRAWFISH; SEA CRAYFISH Sea" craw"fish`. Sea" cray"fish`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any crustacean of the genus Palinurus and allied genera, as the European spiny lobster (P. vulgaris), which is much used as an article of food. See Lobster.

SEA CROW Sea" crow`. (Zoöl.) (a) The chough. [Ireland] (b) The cormorant. (c) The blackheaded pewit, and other gulls. (d) The skua. (e) The razorbill. [Orkney Islands] (f) The coot.

SEA CUCUMBER Sea" cu"cum*ber. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large holothurian, especially one of those belonging to the genus Pentacta, or Cucumaria, as the common American and European species. (P. frondosa).

SEA DACE Sea" dace`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European sea perch.

SEA DAFFODIL Sea" daf"fo*dil. (Bot.)

Defn: A European amarylidaceous plant (Pancratium maritimum).

SEA DEVIL Sea" dev`il (Zoöl.) (a) Any very large ray, especially any species of the genus Manta or Cepholoptera, some of which become more than twenty feet across and weigh several tons. See also Ox ray, under Ox. (b) Any large cephalopod, as a large Octopus, or a giant squid (Architeuthis). See Devilfish. (c) The angler.

SEA DOG Sea" dog`.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dogfish. (b) The common seal.

2. An old sailor; a salt. [Colloq.]

SEA DOTTEREL Sea" dot"ter*el. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The turnstone.

SEA DOVE Sea" dove`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The little auk, or rotche. See Illust. of Rotche.

SEA DRAGON Sea" drag"on. (Zoöl.) (a) A dragonet, or sculpin. (b) The pegasus.

SEA DRAKE Sea" drake`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pewit gull.

SEA DUCK Sea" duck`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of ducks which frequent the seacoasts and feed mainly on fishes and mollusks. The scoters, eiders, old squaw, and ruddy duck are examples. They may be distinguished by the lobate hind toe.

SEA EAGLE Sea" ea"gle.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of fish-eating eagles of the genus Haliæetus and allied genera, as the North Pacific sea eagle. (H. pelagicus), which has white shoulders, head, rump, and tail; the European white-tailed eagle (H. albicilla); and the Indian white- tailed sea eagle, or fishing eagle (Polioaëtus ichthyaëtus). The bald eagle and the osprey are also sometimes classed as sea eagles.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The eagle ray. See under Ray.

SEA-EAR Sea"-ear`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of ear-shaped shells of the genus Haliotis. See Abalone.

SEA EEL Sea" eel`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The conger eel.

SEA EGG Sea" egg`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea urchin.

SEA ELEPHANT Sea" el"e*phant. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very large seal (Macrorhinus proboscideus) of the Antarctic seas, much hunted for its oil. It sometimes attains a length of thirty feet, and is remarkable for the prolongation of the nose of the adult male into an erectile elastic proboscis, about a foot in length. Another species of smaller size (M. angustirostris) occurs on the coast of Lower California, but is now nearly extinct.

SEA FAN Sea" fan". (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gorgonian which branches in a fanlike form, especially Gorgonia flabellum of Florida and the West Indies.

SEAFARER Sea"far`er, n. Etym: [Sea + fare.]

Defn: One who follows the sea as a business; a mariner; a sailor.

SEAFARING Sea"far`ing, a.

Defn: Following the business of a mariner; as, a seafaring man.

SEA FEATHER Sea" feath"er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gorgonian which branches in a plumelike form.

SEA FENNEL Sea" fen"nel. (Bot.)

Defn: Samphire.

SEA FERN Sea" fern". (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gorgonian which branches like a fern.

SEA FIGHT Sea" fight`.

Defn: An engagement between ships at sea; a naval battle.

SEA FIR Sea" fir`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sertularian hydroid, especially Sertularia abietina, which branches like a miniature fir tree.

SEA FLOWER Sea" flow"er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea anemone, or any related anthozoan.

SEA FOAM Sea" foam`.

1. Foam of sea water.

2. (Min.)

Defn: Meerschaum; -- called also sea froth.

SEA FOWL Sea" fowl`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bird which habitually frequents the sea, as an auk, gannet, gull, tern, or petrel; also, all such birds, collectively.

SEA FOX Sea" fox`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The thrasher shark. See Thrasher.

SEA FROTH Sea" froth`.

Defn: See Sea foam, 2.

SEA-GATE; SEA-GAIT Sea"-gate`, Sea"-gait`, n.

Defn: A long, rolling swell of the sea. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

SEA GAUGE Sea" gauge`.

Defn: See under Gauge, n.

SEA GHERKIN; SEA GIRKIN Sea" gher`kin, or; Sea" gir"kin. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small holothurian resembling in form a gherkin.

SEA GINGER Sea" gin"ger. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hydroid coral of the genus Millepora, especially M. alcicornis, of the West Indies and Florida. So called because it stings the tongue like ginger. See Illust. under Millepore.

SEA GIRDLES Sea" gir"dles. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of kelp (Laminaria digitata) with palmately cleft fronds; -- called also sea wand, seaware, and tangle.

SEAGIRT Sea"girt`, a.

Defn: Surrounded by the water of the sea or ocean; as, a seagirt isle. Milton.

SEA GOD Sea" god`.

Defn: A marine deity; a fabulous being supposed to live in, or have dominion over, the sea, or some particular sea or part of the sea, as Neptune.

SEA GODDESS Sea" god"dess.

Defn: A goddess supposed to live in or reign over the sea, or some part of the sea.

SEAGOING Sea"go`ing, a.

Defn: Going upon the sea; especially, sailing upon the deep sea; -- used in distinction from coasting or river, as applied to vessels.

SEA GOOSE Sea" goose`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A phalarope.

SEA GOWN Sea" gown`.

Defn: A gown or frock with short sleeves, formerly worn by mariners. Shak.

SEA GRAPE Sea" grape`.

1. (Bot.) (a) The gulf weed. See under Gulf. (b) A shrubby plant (Coccoloba uvifera) growing on the sandy shores of tropical America, somewhat resembling the grapevine.

2. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The clusters of gelatinous egg capsules of a squid (Loligo).

SEA GRASS Sea" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: Eelgrass.

SEA GREEN Sea" green`.

Defn: The green color of sea water.

SEA-GREEN Sea"-green`, a.

Defn: Of a beautiful bluish green color, like sea water on soundings.

SEA GUDGEON Sea" gud"geon. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European black goby (Gobius niger).

SEA GULL Sea" gull`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gull living on the seacoast.

SEAH Se"ah, n.

Defn: A Jewish dry measure containing one third of an an ephah.

SEA HARE Sea" hare`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any tectibranchiate mollusk of the genus Aplysia. See Aplysia.

SEA HAWK Sea" hawk`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A jager gull.

SEA HEATH Sea" heath`. (Bot.)

Defn: A low perennial plant (Frankenia lævis) resembling heath, growing along the seashore in Europe.

SEA HEDGEHOG Sea" hedge"hog`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea urchin.

SEA HEN Sea" hen`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the common guillemot; -- applied also to various other sea birds.

SEA HOG Sea" hog`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The porpoise.

SEA HOLLY Sea" hol"ly. (Bot.)

Defn: An evergeen seashore plant (Eryngium maritimum). See Eryngium.

SEA HOLM Sea" holm`.

Defn: A small uninhabited island.

SEA HOLM Sea" holm`. (Bot.)

Defn: Sea holly.

SEA HORSE Sea" horse`.

1. A fabulous creature, half horse and half fish, represented in classic mythology as driven by sea dogs or ridden by the Nereids. It is also depicted in heraldry. See Hippocampus.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The walrus. (b) Any fish of the genus Hippocampus.

Note: In a passage of Dryden's, the word is supposed to refer to the hippopotamus.

SEA HULVER Sea" hul"ver. (Bot.)

Defn: Sea holly.

SEA-ISLAND Sea"-is`land, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to certain islands along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia; as, sea-island cotton, a superior cotton of long fiber produced on those islands.

SEA JELLY Sea" jel"ly. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A medusa, or jellyfish.

SEAK Seak, n.

Defn: Soap prepared for use in milling cloth.

SEA KALE Sea" kale". (Bot.)

Defn: See under Kale.

SEA KING Sea" king`.

Defn: One of the leaders among the Norsemen who passed their lives in roving the seas in search of plunder and adventures; a Norse pirate chief. See the Note under Viking.

SEAL Seal, n. Etym: [OE. sele, AS. seolh; akin to OHG. selah, Dan. sæl, Sw. själ, Icel. selr.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocidæ and Otariidæ.

Note: Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing such popular names as sea lion, sea leopard, sea bear, or ursine seal, fur seal, and sea elephant. The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), the hooded seal (Cystophora crustata), and the ringed seal (Phoca foetida), are northern species. See also Eared seal, Harp seal, and Fur seal, under Eared, Harp, Monk, and Fur. Seals are much hunted for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant. Harbor seal (Zoöl.), the common seal (Phoca vitulina). It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean, and often ascends rivers; -- called also marbled seal, native seal, river seal, bay seal, land seal, sea calf, sea cat, sea dog, dotard, ranger, selchie, tangfish.

SEAL Seal, n. Etym: [OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign, figure, or image. See Sign, n., and cf. Sigil.]

1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security.

2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to give a deed under hand and seal. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend;st thy lungs to speak so loud. Shak.

3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it.

4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. "under the seal of silence." Milton. Like a red seal is the setting sun On the good and the evil men have done. Lonfellow.

5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap. Great seal. See under Great. -- Privy seal. See under Privy, a. -- Seal lock, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal in such a way that the lock can not be opened without rupturing the seal. Seal manual. See under Manual, a. -- Seal ring, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring. Shak.

SEAL Seal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skaling.] Etym: [OE. selen; cf. OF. seeler, seieler, F. sceller, LL. sigillare. See Seal a stamp.]

1. To set or affix a seal to; hence, to authenticate; to confirm; to ratify; to establish; as, to seal a deed. And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Shak.

2. To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to seal weights and measures; to seal silverware.

3. To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, wax, or other substance causing adhesion; as, to seal a letter.

4. Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep secure or secret. Seal up your lips, and give no words but "mum". Shak.

5. To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or the like. Gwilt.

6. To close by means of a seal; as, to seal a drainpipe with water. See 2d Seal, 5.