Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Scŭf'fle, n. p. 1186A contention or trial of strength between two persons, who embrace each other's bodies; a struggle with close embrace, to decide which shall throw the other;—in distinction from wrestling, which is a…Scŭf'fle, v. i. p. 1187To strive or struggle with close grapple, as two persons. 2. Hence, to strive or contend tumultuously; to struggle confusedly. A gallant man would rather fight to great disadvantages in the field, in…Scuf'fler, n. p. 1187One who scuffles. 2. An agricultural implement resembling the scarifier, but usually lighter.Scŭg, v. t. p. 1187To hide. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Scŭg, n. p. 1187A place of shelter; the declivity of a hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Scŭlk, v. i. p. 1187To retire into a close place for concealment; to skulk.Scŭlk'er, n. p. 1187One who sculks. See SKULKER.Scŭll, n. p. 1187The skull; the brain-pan.Scŭll, n. p. 1187A shoal or multitude of fish. [Obs.] Fish that with their fins and shining scales Glide under the green wave in sculls, that oft Bank the mid sea. Milton.Scŭll, n. p. 1187(Naut.) (a.) A boat; a cock-boat. See SCULLER. (b.) An oar so short that one man can work a pair; especially, a single oar used in propelling a boat, being placed over the stern of a boat, and worked…Scŭll, v. t. p. 1187(Naut.) To impel a boat by moving and turning an oar over the stern. Totten.Scŭll'er, n. p. 1187A boat rowed by one man with two sculls or short oars. 2. One who sculls, or rows with sculls; one who impels a boat by an oar over the stern.Scŭl'ler-y, n. p. 1187A place where dishes, kettles, and other culinary utensils are kept. 2. An apartment attached to the kitchen, where the dirty work is done.Scŭl'lion, n. p. 1187A servant who cleans pots and kettles, and does other menial services in the kitchen. “The meanest scullion that followed his camp.” South.Scŭl'lion-ly, a. p. 1187Like a scullion; base; low; mean. [Obs.] Milton.Scŭlp, v. t. p. 1187To work as a sculptor; to carve; to engrave. [Obs.] Sandys.Scŭl'pin, n. p. 1187(Ichth.) (a.) A small fish of the genus Cottus, furnished with spines. (b.) The gemmeous dragonet, or Callionymus dracunculus. [Eng.]Scŭlp'tile, a. p. 1187Formed by carving; as, sculptile images. [Obs.]Scŭlp'tor, n. p. 1187One who sculptures; one whose occupation is to carve images or figures; one who cuts, carves, or engraves wood, stone, or other like materials; a carver.Scŭlp'tress, n. p. 1187A female who practices the art of sculpture; a female sculptor.Scŭlp'tür-al, a. p. 1187Pertaining to sculpture.Scŭlp'türe, n. p. 1187The art of carving, cutting, or hewing wood or stone into images, as of men, beasts, or other things; especially, the art of carving images or statues in stone. 2. Carved work. There, too, in living…Scŭlp'türe, v. t. p. 1187To form with the chisel on wood, stone, or metal; to carve; to engrave.Scŭlp'tür-ësque', a. p. 1187After the manner of sculpture; resembling sculpture. Fairholt.Scŭm, n. p. 1187The 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.…Scŭm, v. i. p. 1187To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Life and the interest of life have stagnated and scummed over. A. K. H. Boyd.Scŭm, v. t. p. 1187To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim. “You that scum the molten lead.” Dryden. 2. To sweep over; to scour; to range. [Obs.] Wandering up and down without…Seüm'ber, n. p. 1187Dung. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ainsworth.Scūm'ber, v. i. p. 1187To void excrement; to dung. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] “Let out of their kennels to scumber.” Massinger.Scŭm'ble, v. t. p. 1187To cover lightly, or spread thinly, as a painting, drawing, and the like, with opaque or semi-opaque colors, to produce a softened effect.Scūm'bling, n. p. 1187A mode of obtaining a softened effect, in painting and drawing, by blending tints with a neutral color of a semi-transparent character, forming a sort of glazing, when lightly rubbed over a portion…Scŭm'mer, n. p. 1187Excrement; dung; scumber.Seūm'mer, v. i. p. 1187To scumber; to dung. Holland.Scûm'mer, n. p. 1187An instrument used for taking off the scum of liquors; a skimmer.Scŭm'ming, n. p. 1187That which is skimmed or scummed off; skimmings; scum;—used chiefly in the plural.Scŭm'my, a. p. 1187Covered with scum. Sidney.Scŭp, n. p. 1187A swing;—a term still retained among the Dutch settlers of N. Y. Bartlett.Scŭp or Scŭp'paug, n. p. 1187(Ichth.) A small fish; Pagrus argyrops of Linnæus and Storer; the porgee. [U. S.]Scŭp'per, n. p. 1187(Naut.) The channel cut through the water-ways and side of a ship, for carrying off the water from the deck;— called also scupper-hole. Totten.Scŭp'per-hōse, n. p. 1187(Naut.) A pipe of leather, canvas, &c., attached to the mouth of the scuppers, on the outside of a vessel, to prevent the water from entering. Totten.Scŭp'per-nāil, n. p. 1187(Naut.) A nail with a very broad head, for securing the edge of the hose to the scupper.Scūp'per-nōng, n. p. 1187A valuable species of grape, both cultivated and found growing wild from Virginia to Florida, and said, by some, to be a native of Greece. It is commonly regarded as a variety of the Vitis vulpina of…Scŭp'per-plŭg, n. p. 1187(Naut.) A plug to stop a scupper. Totten.Sear, v. i. p. 1187To move hastily; to scour. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Scurf, n. p. 1187A dry scab or mealy crust formed on the skin of an animal; an excretion, or exfoliation from the surface of the body. 2. Hence, the soil, stain, or foul remains of any thing adherent; as, the scurf…Scurf'i-ness, n. p. 1187The state of being scurfy.Scurf'y, a. p. 1187Having scurf; covered with scurf; resembling scurf.Scŭr'rile, a. p. 1187Such as befits a buffoon or vulgar jester; grossly opprobrious in language; scurrilous; low; mean; as, scurrile scoffing; scurrile taunts. “The wretched affectation of scurrile laughter.” Cowley. A…Scur-ril'i-ty, n. p. 1187The quality 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…Scŭr'ril-oŭs, a. p. 1187Using 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…Scūr'ril-oūs-ly, adv. p. 1187In a scurrilous manner; with gross reproach; with low, indecent language. It is barbarous incivility scurrilously to sport with what others count “religion.” Tillotson.Scūr'ril-oŭs-ness, n. p. 1187The quality of being scurrilous; that which is scurrilous; scurrility; indecency of language; coarse vulgarity.Scŭr'ry, v. i. p. 1187To hasten away or along; to hurry. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Scūr'vil-y, adv. p. 1187In a scurvy manner; with coarse and vulgar incivility; basely; meanly. The clergy were never more learned, or so scurvily treated. Swift.Scūr'vī-ness, n. p. 1187The state of being scurvy; vileness; meanness.Scūr'vy, n. p. 1187(Med.) A disease characterized by livid spots of various sizes, occasioned by extravasation of blood under the cuticle, paleness, languor, lassitude, and depression of spirits, general exhaustion…Scūr'vy, a. p. 1187Covered or affected by scurf or scabs; scabby; scurfy; specifically, diseased with the scurvy. 2. Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible; as, a scurvy fellow. “That scurvy custom of taking tobacco.”…Scūr'vy-grāss, n. p. 1187(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cochlearia; spoon-wort. It grows on rocks near the sea, has an acrid, bitter taste, and has its name from having been often used as a remedy for the scurvy. It was…Scūt, n. p. 1187The tail of a hare or other animal whose tail is short; hence, sometimes, the animal itself. “How the Indian hare came to have a long tail, whereas that part in others attains no higher than a scut.”…Scū'tage, n. p. 1187(Eng. Hist.) A tax or contribution levied upon those who held lands by knight service; originally, a composition for personal service which the tenant owed to his lord, but afterward levied as an…