The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1501
Interrupting prayers and sermons with clamor and scurrility . Macaulay.
Syn. -- Scurrilousness; abuse; insolence; vulgarity; indecency.
Scurrilous <Xpage=1295>
Scur"ril*ous (?) , a. [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 <Xpage=1295>
Scur"rit (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) the lesser tern ( Sterna minuta ). [Prov. Eng.]
Scurry <Xpage=1295>
Scur"ry (?) , v. i. [Cf. Scur , Skirr .] To hasten away or along; to move rapidly; to hurry; as, the rabbit scurried away .
Scurry <Xpage=1295>
Scur"ry , n. Act of scurring; hurried movement.
Scurvily <Xpage=1295>
Scur"vi*ly (?) , adv. In a scurvy manner.
Scurviness <Xpage=1295>
Scur"vi*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being scurvy; vileness; meanness.
Scurvy <Xpage=1295>
Scur"vy (?) , a. [ Compar. Scurvier (?) ; superl. Scurviest .] [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 <Xpage=1295>
Scur"vy , n. [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.) 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. <-- caused by lack of vitamin C -->
Scurvy grass [ Scurvy + grass ; or cf. Icel. skarfa k\'bel 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scut (?) , n. [Cf. Icel. skott a fox's tail. &root; 159.] [Obs.] 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scu"ta (?) , n. pl. See Scutum .
Scutage <Xpage=1295>
Scu"tage (?; 48) , n. [LL. scutagium , from L. scutum a shield.] (Eng. Hist.) Shield money; commutation of service for a sum of money. See Escuage .
Scutal <Xpage=1295>
Scu"tal (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a shield.
A good example of these scutal monstrosities. Cussans.
Scutate <Xpage=1295>
Scu"tate (?) , a. [L. scutatus armed with a shield, from scutum a shield.] 1. Buckler-shaped; round or nearly round.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Protected or covered by bony or horny plates, or large scales.
Scutch <Xpage=1295>
Scutch (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scutched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Scutching .] [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 <Xpage=1295>
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 <Xpage=1295>
Scutch"eon (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=1295>
Scutch"eoned (?) , a. Emblazoned on or as a shield.
Scutcheoned panes in cloisters old. Lowell.
Scutcher <Xpage=1295>
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 <Xpage=1295>
Scutch" grass` (?) . (Bot.) A kind of pasture grass ( Cynodon Dactylon ). See Bermuda grass : also Illustration in Appendix.
Scute <Xpage=1295>
Scute (?) , n. [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. (Zo\'94l.) 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scu*tel"la (?) , n. pl. See Scutellum .
Scutella <Xpage=1295>
Scu*tel"la , n. ; pl. Scutelle (#) . [NL., fem. dim. of L. scutum .] (Zo\'94l.) See Scutellum , n. , 2.
Scutellate, Scutellated <Xpage=1295>
Scu"tel*late (?) , Scu"tel*la`ted (?) , a. [L. scutella a dish, salver. Cf. Scuttle a basket.] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Formed like a plate or salver; composed of platelike surfaces; as, the scutellated bone of a sturgeon .
Woodward.
2. [See Scutellum .] (Zo\'94l.) Having the tarsi covered with broad transverse scales, or scutella; -- said of certain birds.
Scutellation <Xpage=1295>
Scu`tel*la"tion (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) the entire covering, or mode of arrangement, of scales, as on the legs and feet of a bird.
Scutelliform <Xpage=1295>
Scu*tel"li*form (?) , a. [L. scutella a dish + -form .] 1. Scutellate.
2. (Bot.) Having the form of a scutellum.
Scutelliplantar <Xpage=1295>
Scu*tel`li*plan"tar (?) , a. [L. scutellus a shield + planta foot.] (Zo\'94l.) Having broad scutella on the front, and small scales on the posterior side, of the tarsus; -- said of certain birds.
Scutellum <Xpage=1295>
Scu*tel"lum (?) , n. ; pl. Scutella (#) . [NL., neut. dim. of L. scutum a shield.] 1. (Bot.) A rounded apothecium having an elevated rim formed of the proper thallus, the fructification of certain lichens.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (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 <Xpage=1295>
Scu"ti*branch (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Scutibranchiate. -- n. One of the Scutibranchiata.
Scutibranchia <Xpage=1295>
Scu`ti*bran"chi*a (?) , n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Scutibranchiata .
Scutibranchian <Xpage=1295>
Scu`ti*bran"chi*an (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Scutibranchiata.
Scutibranchiata <Xpage=1295>
Scu`ti*bran`chi*a"ta (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Scutum , and Branchia .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of gastropod Mollusca having a heart with two auricles and one ventricle. The shell may be either spiral or shieldlike.
&hand; 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scu`ti*bran"chi*ate (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having the gills protected by a shieldlike shell; of or pertaining to the Scutibranchiata. -- n. One of the Scutibranchiata.
Scutiferous <Xpage=1295>
Scu*tif"er*ous (?) , a. [L. scutum shield + -ferous .] Carrying a shield or buckler.
Scutiform <Xpage=1295>
Scu"ti*form (?) , a. [L. scutum shield + -form : cf. F. scutiforme .] Shield-shaped; scutate.
Scutiger <Xpage=1295>
Scu"ti*ger (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. scutum shield + gerere to bear.] (Zo\'94l.) Any species of chilopod myriapods of the genus Scutigera . They sometimes enter buildings and prey upon insects.
Scutiped <Xpage=1295>
Scu"ti*ped (?) , a. [L. scutum a shield + pes , pedis , a foot: cf. F. scutip\'8ade .] (Zo\'94l.) 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.
Scuttle <Xpage=1295>
Scut"tle (?) , n. [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 <Xpage=1295>
Scut"tle , v. i. [For scuddle , fr. scud .] 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scut"tle , n. A quick pace; a short run.
Spectator.
Scuttle <Xpage=1295>
Scut"tle (?) , n. [OF. escoutille , F. \'82scoutille , 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 , ∨ 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. <-- se scuttlebutt -->
Totten.
Scuttle <Xpage=1295>
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 .
<-- Scuttlebutt. 1. scuttle butt. 2. A drinking fountain on boards a ship or at a naval station. 3. The latest gossip; rumors. -->
Scutum <Xpage=1295>
Scu"tum (?) , n. ; pl. Scuta (#) . [L.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) 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) A penthouse or awning. [Obs.]
Burrill.
3. (Zo\'94l.) (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 <Xpage=1295>
Scyb"a*la (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ dung.] (Med.) Hardened masses of feces.
Scye <Xpage=1295>
Scye (?) , n. Arm scye, a cutter's term for the armhole or part of the armhole of the waist of a garnment. [Cant]
Scyle <Xpage=1295>
Scyle (?) , v. t. [AS. scylan to withdraw or remowe.] To hide; to secrete; to conceal. [Obs.]
Scylla <Xpage=1295>
Scyl"la (?) , n. 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.
Scyll\'91a <Xpage=1295>
Scyl*l\'91"a (?) , n. [NL. See Scylla .] (Zo\'94l.) 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.
&hand; In color and form these mollusks closely imitate the fronds of sargassum and other floathing seaweeds among which they live.
Scyllarian <Xpage=1295>
Scyl*la"ri*an (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of a family ( Scyllarid\'91 ) of macruran Crustacea, remarkable for the depressed form of the body, and the broad, flat antenn\'91. Also used adjectively.
Scyllite <Xpage=1295>
Scyl"lite (?) , n. (Chem.) 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scym"e*tar (?) , n. See Scimiter .
Scypha <Xpage=1295>
Scy"pha (?) , n. ; pl. Scyphae (#) . [NL.] (Bot.) See Scyphus , 2 (b) .
Scyphiform <Xpage=1295>
Scy"phi*form (?) , a. [L. scyphus a cup + -form .] (Bot.) Cup-shaped.
Scyphistoma <Xpage=1295>
Scy*phis"to*ma (?) , n. ; pl. Scyphistomata (#) , Scyphistom\'91 (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a cup + <?/ the mouth.] (Zo\'94l.) The young attached larva of Discophora in the stage when it resembles a hydroid, or actinian.
Scyphobranchii <Xpage=1295>
Scy`pho*bran"chi*i (?) , n. pl. [NL., from Gr. <?/ a cup + <?/ a gill.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of fishes including the blennioid and gobioid fishes, and other related families.
Scyphomeduse <Xpage=1295>
Scy`pho*me*du"se (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cup + NL. medusa .] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Acraspeda , or Discophora .
Scyphophori <Xpage=1295>
Scy*phoph"o*ri (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a cup + <?/ to bear.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of fresh-water fishes inhabiting tropical Africa. They have rudimentary electrical organs on each side of the tail.
Scyphus <Xpage=1295>
Scy"phus (?) , n. ; pl. Scyphi (#) . [L., a cup, Gr. <?/.] 1. (Antiq.) 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 <Xpage=1295>
Scythe (s&imac;th) , n. [OE. sithe , AS. s\'c6\'ebe, sig\'ebe ; akin to Icel. sig\'ebr 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.) A scythe-shaped blade attached to ancient war chariots.
<page="1296"> Page 1296
Scythe <Xpage=1296>
Scythe (?) , v. t. 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 <Xpage=1296>
Scythed (?) , a. Armed scythes, as a chariot.
Chariots scythed , On thundering axles rolled. Glover.
Scytheman <Xpage=1296>
Scythe"man (?) , n. ; pl. Scythemen (<?/) . One who uses a scythe; a mower.
Macaulay.
Scythestone <Xpage=1296>
Scythe"stone` (?) , n. A stone for sharpening scythes; a whetstone.
Scythewhet <Xpage=1296>
Scythe"whet` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Wilson's thrush; -- so called from its note. [Local, U.S.]
Scythian <Xpage=1296>
Scyth"i*an (?) , a. 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 <Xpage=1296>
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 <Xpage=1296>
Scy`to*der"ma*ta (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a hide + <?/ a skin.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Holothurioidea .
Sdan <Xpage=1296>
Sdan (?) , v. & n. Disdain. [Obs.]
Spenser.
'Sdeath <Xpage=1296>
'Sdeath (?) , interj. [Corrupted fr. God's death .] An exclamation expressive of impatience or anger.
Shak.
Sdeign <Xpage=1296>