| SCUBA | Acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| scud | 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. 4. <ornithology> A small flight of larks, or other birds, less than a flock. 5. <zoology> Any swimming amphipod crustacean. Storm scud. See the Note under Cloud. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scull | A shoal of fish. See: 1st School. <anatomy> The skull. 1. A boat; a cockboat. See Sculler. One of a pair of short oars worked by one person. A single oar used at the stern in propelling a boat. 2. <zoology> The common skua gull. Origin: Of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. Skola to wash. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scullion | <botany> A scalion. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sculpin | <zoology> 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. A large cottoid market fish of California (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus); called also bighead, cabezon, scorpion, salpa. The dragonet, or yellow sculpin, of Europe (Callionymus lura). The name is also applied to other related California species. Deep-water sculpin, the sea raven. Origin: Written also skulpin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sculptress | A female sculptor. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| 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) Origin: L. Sculptura: cf. F. Sculpture. To form with the chisel on, in, or from, wood, stone, or metal; to carve; to engrave. <zoology> Sculptured tortoise, a common North American wood tortoise (Glyptemys insculpta). The shell is marked with strong grooving and ridges which resemble sculptured figures. Origin: Sculptured; Sculpturing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Scultetus | (Scultet) Originall y Schultes, Johann, German surgeon, 1595-1645. See: Scultetus' bandage, Scultetus' position. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Scultetus' bandage | A large oblong cloth, the ends of which are cut into narrow strips, which is applied to the thorax or abdomen, the strips being tied or overlapped and pinned. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Scultetus' position | A supine position on an inclined plane with head low, recommended by Scultetus for herniotomy and castration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scum | 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) Origin: Of Scand. Origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. Skum, Icel. Skm, LG. Schum, D. Schuim, OHG. Scm, G. Schaum; probably from a root meaning, to cover. Cf. Hide skin, Meerschaum, Skim, Sky. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scumbling | 1. A mode of obtaining a softened effect, in painting and drawing, by the application of a thin layer of opaque colour to the surface of a painting, or part of the surface, which is too bright in colour, or which requires harmonizing. In crayon drawing, the use of the stump. 2. The colour so laid on. Also used figuratively. "Shining above the brown scumbling of leafless orchards." (L. Wallace) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scup | <zoology> 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. The same names are also applied to a closely allied Southern species. (Stenotomus Gardeni). Origin: Contr. Fr. American Indian mishcup, fr. Mishe-kuppi large, thick-scaled. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scuppaug | <zoology> See Scup. Origin: Contr. Fr. Amer. Indian mishcuppauog, pl. Of mishcup. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scupper | 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, a plug to stop a scupper. Origin: OF. Escopir, escupir, to spit, perhaps for escospir, L. Ex + conspuere to spit upon; pref. Con- + spuere to spit. Cf. Spit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |