Chapter 1487

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 0° to 90° in a circle of given radius, -- used in measuring given angles and in plotting angles of given numbers of degrees.

Scale <Xpage=1282>

Scale , v. t. [Cf. It. scalare , fr. L. scale , scala . See Scale a ladder.] 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scale , v. i. 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scale"back` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of marine annelids of the family Polynoid\'91 , and allies, which have two rows of scales, or elytra, along the back. See Illust . under Ch\'91topoda .

Scalebeam <Xpage=1282>

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 <Xpage=1282>

Scale"board` (?; commonly <?/) , n. [3d scale + board .] 1. (Print.) 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 <Xpage=1282>

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. (Zo\'94l.) Having feathers which in form, color, or arrangement somewhat resemble scales; as, the scaled dove .

Scaled dove (Zo\'94l.) , any American dove of the genus Scardafella . Its colored feather tips resemble scales.

Scaleless <Xpage=1282>

Scale"less (?) , a. Destitute of scales.

Scalene <Xpage=1282>

Sca*lene" (?) , a. [L. scalenus , Gr. <?/: cf. F. scal\'8ane .] 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 vertebr\'91 to the first and second ribs.

Scalene <Xpage=1282>

Sca*lene" , n. (Geom.) A triangle having its sides and angles unequal.

Scalenohedral <Xpage=1282>

Sca*le`no*he"dral (?) , a. (Crystallog.) Of or pertaining to a scalenohedron.

Scalenohedron <Xpage=1282>

Sca*le`no*he"dron (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ uneven + <?/ seat, base.] (Crystallog.) A pyramidal form under the rhombohedral system, inclosed by twelve faces, each a scalene triangle.

Scaler <Xpage=1282>

Scal"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, scales; specifically, a dentist's instrument for removing tartar from the teeth.

Scale-winged <Xpage=1282>

Scale"-winged` (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having the wings covered with small scalelike structures, as the lepidoptera; scaly-winged.

Scaliness <Xpage=1282>

Scal"i*ness (?) , n. The state of being scaly; roughness.

Scaling <Xpage=1282>

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 <Xpage=1282>

Scal*io"la (?) , n. Same as Scagliola .

Scall <Xpage=1282>

Scall (?) , n. [Icel. skalli a bald head. Cf. Scald , a. ] A scurf or scabby disease, especially of the scalp.

It is a dry scall , even a leprosy upon the head. Lev. xiii. 30.

Scall <Xpage=1282>

Scall , a. Scabby; scurfy. [Obs.]

Shak.

Scalled <Xpage=1282>

Scalled (?) , a. Scabby; scurfy; scall. [Obs.] "With scalled brows black."

Chaucer.

Scalled head . (Med.) See Scald head , under Scald , a.

Scallion <Xpage=1282>

Scal"lion (?) , n. [OF. escalone , escaloingne , L. caepa Ascalonius of Ascalon, fr. Ascalo Ascalon, a town in Palestine. Cf. Shallot .] 1. (Bot.) 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scal"lop (?; 277) , n. [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. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Pecten and allied genera of the family Pectinid\'91 . 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 Jacob\'91us ) 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.

&hand; 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 <Xpage=1282>

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

Scalloped <Xpage=1282>

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) 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scal"lop*er (?) , n. One who fishes for scallops.

Scalloping <Xpage=1282>

Scal"lop*ing , n. Fishing for scallops.

Scalp <Xpage=1282>

Scalp (?) , n. [Cf. Scallop .] A bed of oysters or mussels. [Scot.]

Scalp <Xpage=1282>

Scalp , n. [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 <Xpage=1282>

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.) To remove the skin of.

We must scalp the whole lid [of the eye]. J. S. Wells.

3. (Milling.) To brush the hairs of fuzz from, as wheat grains, in the process of high milling.

Knight.

Scalp <Xpage=1282>

Scalp , v. i. 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scal"pel (?) , n. [L scalpellum , dim. of scalprum a knife, akin to scalpere to cut, carve, scrape: cf. F. scalpel .] (Surg.) A small knife with a thin, keen blade, -- used by surgeons, and in dissecting.

Scalper <Xpage=1282>

Scalper (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, scalps.

2. (Surg.) 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scalp"ing (?) , 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scal"pri*form (?) , a. [L. scalprum chisel, knife + -form .] (Anat.) Shaped like a chisel; as, the scalpriform incisors of rodents .

Scaly <Xpage=1282>

Scal"y (?) , a. 1. Covered or abounding with scales; as, a scaly fish . " Scaly crocodile."

Milton.

2. Resembling scales, lamin\'91, or layers.

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

4. (Bot.) Composed of scales lying over each other; as, a scaly bulb ; covered with scales; as, a scaly stem .

Scaly ant-eater (Zo\'94l.) , the pangolin.

Scaly-winged <Xpage=1282>

Scal"y-winged` (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Scale-winged.

Scamble <Xpage=1282>

Scam"ble (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Scambled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Scambling .] [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 <Xpage=1282>

Scam"ble , v. t. To mangle. [Obs.]

Mortimer.

Scambler <Xpage=1282>

Scam"bler (?) , n. 1. One who scambles.

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

Scambling <Xpage=1282>

Scam"bling (?) , adv. In a scambling manner; with turbulence and noise; with bold intrusiveness.

Scamell, &or; Scammel <Xpage=1282>

Scam"ell (?) , &or; Scam"mel , n. (Zo\'94l.) The female bar-tailed godwit. [Prov. Eng.]

&hand; Whether this is the scamel mentioned by Shakespeare ["Tempest," ii. 2] is not known.

Scamillus <Xpage=1282>

Sca*mil"lus (?) , n. ; pl. Scamilli (#) . [L., originally , a little bench , dim . of scamnum bench, stool.] (Arch.) 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scam*mo"ni*ate (?) , a. Made from scammony; as, a scammoniate aperient .

Scammony <Xpage=1282>

Scam"mo*ny (?) , n. [F. scammon\'82e , L. scammonia , scammonea , Gr. <?/.] 1. (Bot.) 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scamp (?) , n. [OF. escamper to run away, to make one's escape. originally, one who runs away, a fugitive, a vagabond. See Scamper .] A rascal; a swindler; a rogue.

De Quincey.

Scamp <Xpage=1282>

Scamp , v. t. [Cf. Scamp , n. , or Scant , a. , and Skimp .] 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scam`pa*vi"a (?) , n. [It.] A long, low war galley used by the Neapolitans and Sicilians in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Scamper <Xpage=1282>

Scam"per (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Scampered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Scampering .] [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. ] 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 <Xpage=1282>

Scam"per , n. A scampering; a hasty flight.

Scamperer <Xpage=1282>

Scam"per*er (?) , n. One who scampers.

Tyndell.

Scampish <Xpage=1282>

Scamp"ish (?) , a. Of or like a scamp; knavish; as, scampish conduct .

Scan <Xpage=1282>

Scan (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scanned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Scanning .] [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.

<-- 4. To examine quickly, from point to point, in search of something specific; as, to scan an article for mention of a particular person.

5. (ELectronics) To form an image or an electronic representation of, by passing a beam of light or electrons over, and detecting and recording the reflected or transmitted signal. -->

Scandal <Xpage=1282>

Scan"dal (?) , n. [F. scandale , fr. L. scandalum , Gr. <?/, a snare laid for an enemy, a stumbling block, offense, scandal: cf. OE. 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) 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.

<page="1283"> Page 1283

Scandal <Xpage=1283>

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 <Xpage=1283>

Scan"dal*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scandalized (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Scandalizing (<?/) .] [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.