Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCUM'MINGS, n. [plur.]

The matter skimmed from boiling liquors; as, the scummings of the boiling-house. Edwards, West Indies.

SCUP'PER, n. [Sp. escupir, to spit, to eject, to discharge.]

The scuppers or scupper-holes of a ship, are channels cut through the water ways and sides of a ship at proper distances, and lined with lead for carying off the water from the deck. – Mar. Dict.

SCUP'PER-HOSE, n.

A leathern pipe attached to the mouth of the scuppers of the lower deck of a ship, to prevent the water from entering. – Encyc.

SCUP'PER-NAIL, n.

A nail with a very broad head for covering a large surface of the hose. – Mar. Dict.

SCUP'PER-PLUG, n.

A plug to stop a scupper. – Mar. Dict.

SCURF, n. [Sax. scurf; G. schorf; D. schurft; Dan. skurv; Sw. skorf; Ice. skarfa; L. scorbutus. In D. scheuren is to rend or crack, and scheurbuik is scurvy, Dan. skiörbug, from skiör, brittle. In Ir. gearbh is rough. It is named from breaking or roughness.]

1. A dry miliary scab or mealy crust formed on the skin of an animal.
2. The soil or foul remains of any thing adherent; as, the scurf of crimes. [Not common nor elegant.] – Dryden.
3. Any thing adhering to the surface. There stood a hill, whose grisly top / Shone with a glossy scurf. – Milton.

SCURFF, n.

Another name for the bull-trout. Dict. Nat. Hist.

SCURF'I-NESS, n.

The state of being scurfy.

SCURF'Y, a.

1. Having scurf; covered with scurf.
2. Resembling scurf.

SCUR'RIL, a. [L. scurrilis, from scurra, a buffoon; G. scheren, D. scheeren, to jeer.]

Such as befits a buffoon or vulgar jester; low; mean; grossly; opprobrious in language; scurrilous; as, scurril jests; scurril scoffing; scurril taunts. Shak. Dryden.

SCUR-RIL'I-TY, n. [L. scurrilitas; Fr. scurrilité.]

Such low, vulgar, indecent or abusive language as is used by mean fellows, buffoons, jesters and the like; grossness of reproach or invective; obscene jests, &c. Banish scurrility and profaneness. Dryden.

SCUR'RIL-OUS, a.

1. Using the low and indecent language it 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.

SCUR'RIL-OUS-LY, adv.

With gross reproach; with low indecent language. It is barbarous incivility, scurrilously to sport with what others count religion. – Tillotson.

SCUR'RIL-OUS-NESS, n.

Indecency of language; vulgarity; baseness of manners.

SCUR'VI-LY, adv. [from scurvy.]

Basely; meanly; with coarse and vulgar incivility. The clergy were never more learned, or so scurvily treated. – Swift.

SCUR'VI-NESS, n. [from scurvy.]

The state of being scurvy.

SCUR'VO-GEL, n.

A Brazilian fowl of the stork kind, the jabiru guacu. – Dict. Nat. Hist.

SCUR'VY, a.

1. Scurfy; covered or affected by scurf or scabs; scabby; diseased with scurvy. – Leviticus.
2. Vile; mean; low; vulgar; worthless; contemptible; as, a scurvy fellow. He spoke scurvy and provoking terms. – Shak. That scurry custom of taking tobacco. – Swift.

SCUR'VY, n. [from scurf; scurvy for scurfy; Low L. scorbutus.]

A disease characterized by livid spots of various sizes, sometimes minute and sometimes large, and occasioned by extravasation of blood under the cuticle, paleness, languor, lassitude, and depression of spirits, general exhaustion, pains in the limbs, occasionally with fetid breath, spungy and bleeding gums, and bleeding from almost all the mucous membranes. It is occasioned by confinement, innutritious food and hard labor in conjunction; but more especially by confinement for a long period of time, to a limited range of food, which is incapable of supplying the elements necessary to repair the waste of the system. This disease has been called purpura by some nosologists, but by Good, it is more appropriately styled porphyra.

SCUR'VY-GRASS, n.

A plant of the genus Cochlearia; Spoonwort. It grows on rocks near the sea, and has an acrid, bitter taste. It is eaten raw as a salad. – Encyc.

SCU'SES,

for Excuses. – Shak.

SCUT, n. [Ice. skott; W. cwt, a tail or rump; cwta, short.]

The tail of a hare or other animal whose tail is short. – Brown. Swift.

SCU'TAGE, n. [Law L. scutagium, from scutum, a shield.]

In English history, 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 assessment. Blackstone.

SCU'TATE, a.

Like a shield.

SCUTCH, v.t.

In Pennsylvania, to dress flax with a scutching knife, in New England called a swingle or swingling knife.