Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Scrāg'gy, a. p. 1183Rough with irregular points; scragged. “A scraggy rock.” Philips. 2. Lean and rough. “His sinewy, scraggy neck.” W. Scott.Scrăg'-nĕcked, a. p. 1183Having a long, thin neck.Scrăm'ble, v. i. p. 1183To go on all-fours; to clamber with hands and knees; to scrabble; as, to scramble up a cliff. 2. To struggle with others for something thrown upon the ground; to go down upon all-fours to seize…Scrăm'ble, v. t. p. 1183To mix and cook in a confused mass; as, to scramble eggs.Scram'ble, n. p. 1183The act of scrambling, climbing on all-fours, or clambering. 2. The act of jostling and pushing for something desired; low and unceremonious struggle for what is thrown or held out. The scarcity of…Scrăm'bler, n. p. 1183One who scrambles; one who climbs on all-fours. 2. A greedy and unceremonious contestant.Scrăm'bling, p. a. p. 1183Confused and irregular; awkward; scambling. “A huge old scrambling bedroom.” W. Scott.Scrăm'bling-ly, adv. p. 1183In a scrambling manner; awkwardly; unceremoniously.Scrânch, v. t. p. 1184To grind with the teeth, and with a crackling sound; to craunch. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. U. S.]Scrănk'y, a. p. 1184Thin; lean. [Scot.] Prof. Wilson.Scrān'nel, a. p. 1184Slight; thin; lean; poor; miserable. [Obs.] Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw. Milton.Scrān'ny, a. p. 1184Thin; lean; meager; scrawny; scrannel. [Prov. Eng.]Scrāp, n. p. 1184Something scraped off; hence, a small piece; a bit; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion. I have no materials—not a scrap. De Quincey. 2. Specifically, a fragment of something written or…Scräp'-bôok, n. p. 1184A blank book in which extracts cut from books and papers may be pasted and kept.Scrāpe, v. t. p. 1184To rub the surface of with a sharp or rough instrument; to rub over with something that roughens or removes the surface; to grate harshly over; to roughen or remove the surface of by drawing a sharp…Scrâpe, v. i. p. 1184To rub over the surface of any thing with something which roughens or removes it; to rub harshly and noisily along. 2. Hence, to play awkwardly and inharmoniously on a violin or like instrument. 3.…Scrāpe, n. p. 1184A rubbing over with something harsh that roughens or removes the surface; hence, the effect produced by rubbing, as of a scraping instrument, of the foot, &c.; as, a noisy scrape on the floor; a…Scrā'per, n. p. 1184An instrument with which anything is scraped; as, (a.) An instrument by which the soles of shoes, &c., are cleaned from mud and the like, by drawing them across it. (b.) An instrument drawn by oxen…Scrāp'-fōr'ging, n. p. 1184See SCRAP-IRON.Scrā'p'ing, n. p. 1184Something scraped off; that which is separated from a substance, or is collected by scraping, raking, or rubbing; as, the scrapings of the street.Scrāp'ing-ly, adv. p. 1184In a scraping manner; by scraping.Scrāp'-ī/ron, n. p. 1184Waste cuttings and pieces of wrought iron;—usually called scrap. When piled, heated, and drawn into bars, they form scrap-forgings.Scrât, v. t. p. 1184To scratch. [Obs.] Burton.Scrât, v. i. p. 1184To rake; to search. [Obs.]Scrât, n. p. 1184An hermaphrodite. [Obs.] Skinner.Scrătch, v. t. p. 1184To rub and tear the surface of with something sharp or ragged; to roughen or wound slightly by a point or points, as by the nails, a pin, or the like. “A sort of small, sand-colored stones, so hard…Scrătch, v. i. p. 1184To use the claws in tearing or digging. “Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor scratch.” More.Scrătch, n. p. 1184A break in the surface of a thing made by scratching, or by rubbing with any thing pointed or ragged; a superficial wound or mark; a slight incision. Heaven forbid a shallow scratch should drive The…Scratch'-back, n. p. 1184A kind of plaything used at certain English fairs, which, when drawn quickly along the back of a person, makes a sound like that of tearing cloth, as if his coat were torn. Bulwer.Scrătch'-brŭsh, n. p. 1184A cylindrical bundle of fine steel or brass wires, bound tightly in the center, with the ends projecting on each side, so as to form a stiff brush for scratching and cleaning metals preparatory to…Scratch'er, n. p. 1184One who, or that which, scratches. 2. A bird which scratches for food, as the common hen and cock.Scrătch'ing-ly, adv. p. 1184With the action of scratching.Scrā'tch'-weed, n. p. 1184(Bot.) A plant of the genus Galium; catch-weed; cleavers. See CLEAVERS.Scràtch'-wig, n. p. 1184A thin, rough wig. Simmonds.Scraw, n. p. 1184Surface; cut turf. [Obs.] Swift.Scrawl, v. t. p. 1184To draw or mark awkwardly and irregularly; to write hastily and carelessly; to scratch; to scribble; as, to scrawl a letter. “On the windows of which his name, scrawled by himself, is still read with…Scrawl, v. i. p. 1184To write unskillfully and inelegantly. “Though with a golden pen you scrawl.” Swift. 2. To creep; to crawl. [Obs.] We will scrape and scrawl, and catch and pull to us all that we may get. Latimer.Scrawl, n. p. 1184Unskillful or inelegant writing; or a piece of hasty, bad writing. You bid me write no more than a scrawl to you. Gray. 2. A ragged, broken branch of a tree, or other brush-wood; brush. [Local U. S.]…Scraw'l-er, n. p. 1184One who scrawls; a hasty or awkward writer.Scraw'ny, a. p. 1184Meager; wasted; raw-boned; scranny.Serāy, n. p. 1184(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Sterna (S. hirundo); the sea-swallow; the common tern.Scre'a-ble, a. p. 1184Capable of being spit out. [Obs.] Bailey.Screak, v. i. p. 1184To utter suddenly a sharp, shrill sound or outcry; to scream; to creak, as a door or wheel. See SCREECH.Serèak, n. p. 1184A creaking; a screech.Screām, v. i. p. 1184To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, as in a fright or extreme pain; to shriek. I heard the owl scream. Shak. The fearful matrons raise a screaming cry. Dryden.Scrēam, n. p. 1184A shriek, or sharp, shrill cry, uttered suddenly, as in terror or in pain; a shriek; a screech.Screa'mer, n. p. 1184(Ornith.) A South American bird of two species (Palamedea cornuta, and Chauna chavaria), usually ranked with the grallatorial or wading birds; — so called from their loud, shrill cry. P. Cyc.Scree, n. p. 1184A small stone or pebble. [Prov. Eng.] “Before I had got half way up the screes, which gave way and rattled beneath me at every step.” Southey.Screech, v. i. p. 1184To cry out with a sharp, rough voice; to utter a harsh, shrill cry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek.Screech, n. p. 1184A harsh, shrill cry, uttered in acute pain, or in a sudden fright. 2. A harsh, shrill cry, as of a fowl.Screech'-owl, n. p. 1184An owl that utters a harsh, disagreeable cry at night.Screech'y, a. p. 1184Like a screech; shrill and harsh.Screed, n. p. 1184(Arch.) (a.) A wooden rule for running moldings. (b.) An extreme guide on the margins of walls and ceilings for floating to, by the aid of the rules. Brande.Screed, n. p. 1184A breach or rent; a breaking forth into a loud, shrill sound; as, martial screeds. Burns. 2. An harangue; a long tirade on any subject. The old carle gae them a screed of doctrine; ye might have…Screen, n. p. 1184Any thing that separates or cuts off inconvenience, injury, or danger; that which shelters or protects from danger, prevents inconvenience, shuts off view, and the like. “Your leafy screens throw…Screen, v. t. p. 1184To provide with a shelter or means of concealment; to separate or cut off from inconvenience, injury, or danger; to shelter; to protect; to protect by hiding; to conceal; as, fruits screened from…Screen'ings, n. pl. p. 1184The refuse matter left after sifting coal, ashes, &c.Screw, n. p. 1184A cylinder, or a cylindrical perforation, having a continuous rib or thread winding round it spirally at a constant inclination, so as to leave a like continuous groove between each turn and the…Screw, v. t. p. 1185To turn or apply a screw to; to press, fasten, or make firm, by a screw; as, to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press. 2. To force; to squeeze; to press. Screw your courage to the sticking point…Screw, v. i. p. 1185To use violent means in making exactions; to be oppressive or exacting. “Whose screwing, iron-handed administration of relief is the boast of the parish.” Howell.