Say - Scale

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Say (sā), obs. imp. of . Saw. Chaucer.
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Say (sā), n. [Aphetic form of assay.] 1. Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack. [Obs.]
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If those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit. Hooker.
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Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes. Shak.
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2. Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.]
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He found a sword of better say. Spenser.
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3. Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.]
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Coloq. To give a say at , to attempt. B. Jonson.
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Say, v. t. To try; to assay. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Say, n. [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum, sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. sagos. See .] 1. A kind of silk or satin. [Obs.]
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Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! Shak.
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2. A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [Obs.]
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His garment neither was of silk nor say. Spenser.
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Say, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said (sĕd), contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Saying.] [OE. seggen, seyen, siggen, sayen, sayn, AS. secgan; akin to OS. seggian, D. zeggen, LG. seggen, OHG. sagēn, G. sagen, Icel. segja, Sw. säga, Dan. sige, Lith. sakyti; cf. OL. insece tell, relate, Gr. 'ennepe (for 'en-sepe), 'espete. Cf. , a saying.] 1. To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things.
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Arise, and say how thou camest here. Shak.
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2. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson.
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Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
In what thou hadst to say? Shak.
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After which shall be said or sung the following hymn. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
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3. To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively; to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure about; to be determined in mind as to.
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But what it is, hard is to say. Milton.
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4. To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.
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Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double,
Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble? Shak.
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Coloq. It is said , or Coloq. They say , it is commonly reported; it is rumored; people assert or maintain. -- Coloq. That is to say , that is; in other words; otherwise.
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Say, v. i. To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
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You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge. Shak.
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To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies? Milton.
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Say, n. [From , v. t.; cf. a saying.] A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb. [Archaic or Colloq.]
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He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap. L'Estrange.
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That strange palmer's boding say,
That fell so ominous and drear
Full on the object of his fear. Sir W. Scott.
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Sayer (?), n. One who says; an utterer.
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Mr. Curran was something much better than a sayer of smart sayings. Jeffrey.
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Sayette (?), n. [F. Cf. a kind of serge.] A mixed stuff, called also sagathy. See .
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Saying (?), n. That which is said; a declaration; a statement, especially a proverbial one; an aphorism; a proverb.
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Many are the sayings of the wise,
In ancient and in modern books enrolled. Milton.
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Syn. -- Declaration; speech; adage; maxim; aphorism; apothegm; saw; proverb; byword.
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Sayman (?), n. [Say sample + man.] One who assays. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Saymaster (?), n. A master of assay; one who tries or proves. [Obs.] “Great saymaster of state.” B. Jonson.
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Saynd (?), obs. p. p. of , to singe. Chaucer.
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'Sblood (?), interj. An abbreviation of God's blood; -- used as an oath. [Obs.] Shak.
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Scab (skăb), n. [OE. scab, scabbe, shabbe; cf. AS. scæb, sceabb, scebb, Dan. & Sw. skab, and also L. scabies, fr. scabere to scratch, akin to E. shave. See , and cf. , .] 1. An incrustation over a sore, wound, vesicle, or pustule, formed by the drying up of the discharge from the diseased part.
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2. The itch in man; also, the scurvy. [Colloq. or Obs.]
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3. The mange, esp. when it appears on sheep. Chaucer.
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4. A disease of potatoes producing pits in their surface, caused by a minute fungus (Tiburcinia Scabies).
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5. (Founding) A slight irregular protuberance which defaces the surface of a casting, caused by the breaking away of a part of the mold.
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6. A mean, dirty, paltry fellow. [Low] Shak.
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7. A nickname for a workman who engages for lower wages than are fixed by the trades unions; also, for one who takes the place of a workman on a strike. [Cant]
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8. (Bot.) Any one of various more or less destructive fungus diseases attacking cultivated plants, and usually forming dark-colored crustlike spots.
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Scab, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scabbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scabbing.] 1. To become covered with a scab; as, the wound scabbed over.
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2. to take the place of a striking worker.
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Scabbard (?), n. [OE. scaubert, scauberk, OF. escaubers, escauberz, pl., scabbards, probably of German or Scan. origin; cf. Icel. skālpr scabbard, and G. bergen to conceal. Cf. .] The case in which the blade of a sword, dagger, etc., is kept; a sheath.
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Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade. Fairfax.
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Coloq. Scabbard fish (Zoöl.), a long, compressed, silver-colored tænioid fish (Lepidopus argyreus syn. Lepidopus caudatus), found on the European coasts, and more abundantly about New Zealand, where it is called frostfish and considered an excellent food fish.
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Scabbard (?), v. t. To put in a scabbard.
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Scabbard plane (?). See Scaleboard plane, under .
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Scabbed (? or ?), a. 1. Abounding with scabs; diseased with scabs.
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2. Fig.: Mean; paltry; vile; worthless. Bacon.
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Scabbedness (?), n. Scabbiness.
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Scabbily (?), adv. In a scabby manner.
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Scabbiness, n. The quality or state of being scabby.
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Scabble (?), v. t. See .
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Scabby (?), a. [Compar. Scabbier (�); superl. Scabbiest.] 1. Affected with scabs; full of scabs.
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2. Diseased with the scab, or mange; mangy. Swift.
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Scabies (?), n. (Med.) The itch.
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Scabious (?), a. [L. scabiosus, from scabies the scab: cf. F. scabieux.] Consisting of scabs; rough; itchy; leprous; as, scabious eruptions. Arbuthnot.
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Scabious, n. [Cf. F. scabieuse. See , a.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Scabiosa, several of the species of which are common in Europe. They resemble the Compositæ, and have similar heads of flowers, but the anthers are not connected.
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Coloq. Sweet scabious . (a) Mourning bride. (b) A daisylike plant (Erigeron annuus) having a stout branching stem.
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Scabling (?), n. [See .] A fragment or chip of stone. [Written also scabline.]
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Scabredity (?), n. [L. scabredo, fr. scaber rough.] Roughness; ruggedness. [Obs.] Burton.
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Scabrous (?), a. [L. scabrosus, fr. scaber rough: cf. F. scabreux.] 1. Rough to the touch, like a file; having small raised dots, scales, or points; scabby; scurfy; scaly. Arbuthnot.
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2. Fig.: Harsh; unmusical. [R.]
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His verse is scabrous and hobbling. Dryden.
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Scabrousness, n. The quality of being scabrous.
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Scabwort (?), n. (Bot.) Elecampane.
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Scad (?), n. [Gael. & Ir. sgadan a herring.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small carangoid fish (Trachurus saurus) abundant on the European coast, and less common on the American. The name is applied also to several allied species. (b) The goggler; -- called also big-eyed scad. See . (c) The friar skate. [Scot.] (d) The cigar fish, or round robin.
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Scaffold (?), n. [OF. eschafault, eschafaut, escafaut, escadafaut, F. échafaud; probably originally the same word as E. & F. catafalque, It. catafalco. See .] 1. A temporary structure of timber, boards, etc., for various purposes, as for supporting workmen and materials in building, for exhibiting a spectacle upon, for holding the spectators at a show, etc.
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Pardon, gentles all,
The flat, unraised spirits that have dared
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great an object. Shak.
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2. Specifically, a stage or elevated platform for the execution of a criminal; as, to die on the scaffold.
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That a scaffold of execution should grow a scaffold of coronation. Sir P. Sidney.
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3. (Metal.) An accumulation of adherent, partly fused material forming a shelf, or dome-shaped obstruction, above the tuyères in a blast furnace.
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Scaffold, v. t. To furnish or uphold with a scaffold.
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Scaffoldage (?), n. A scaffold. [R.] Shak.
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Scaffolding, n. 1. A scaffold; a supporting framework; as, the scaffolding of the body. Pope.
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2. Materials for building scaffolds.
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Scaglia (?), n. [It. scaglia a scale, a shell, a chip of marble.] A reddish variety of limestone.
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Scagliola (?), n. [It. scagliuola, dim. of scaglia. See .] An imitation of any veined and ornamental stone, as marble, formed by a substratum of finely ground gypsum mixed with glue, the surface of which, while soft, is variegated with splinters of marble, spar, granite, etc., and subsequently colored and polished.
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Scala (?), n.; pl. Scalæ (#). [L., a ladder.] 1. (Surg.) A machine formerly employed for reducing dislocations of the humerus.
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2. (Anat.) A term applied to any one of the three canals of the cochlea.
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Scalable (?), a. Capable of being scaled.
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{ Scalade (?), Scalado (?), } n. (Mil.) See . Fairfax.
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Scalar (?), n. (Math.) In the quaternion analysis, a quantity that has magnitude, but not direction; -- distinguished from a vector, which has both magnitude and direction.
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Scalaria (?), n. [L., flight of steps.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of marine gastropods of the genus Scalaria, or family Scalaridæ, having elongated spiral turreted shells, with rounded whorls, usually crossed by ribs or varices. The color is generally white or pale. Called also ladder shell, and wentletrap. See , and .
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Scalariform (?), a. [L. scalare, scalaria, staircase, ladder + -form: cf. F. scalariforme.] 1. Resembling a ladder in form or appearance; having transverse bars or markings like the rounds of a ladder; as, the scalariform cells and scalariform pits in some plants.
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2. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to a scalaria.
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Scalary (?), a. [L. scalaris, fr. scalae, pl. scala, staircase, ladder.] Resembling a ladder; formed with steps. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Scalawag (?), n. A scamp; a scapegrace. [Spelt also scallawag.] [Slang, U.S.] Bartlett.
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Scald (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scalded; p. pr. & vb. n. Scalding.] [OF. eschalder, eschauder, escauder, F. échauder, fr. L. excaldare; ex + caldus, calidus, warm, hot. See , and .] 1. To burn with hot liquid or steam; to pain or injure by contact with, or immersion in, any hot fluid; as, to scald the hand.
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Mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead. Shak.
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Here the blue flames of scalding brimstone fall. Cowley.
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2. To expose to a boiling or violent heat over a fire, or in hot water or other liquor; as, to scald milk or meat.
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Scald, n. A burn, or injury to the skin or flesh, by some hot liquid, or by steam.
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Scald, a. [For scalled. See .] 1. Affected with the scab; scabby. Shak.
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2. Scurvy; paltry; as, scald rhymers. [Obs.] Shak.
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Coloq. Scald crow (Zoöl.), the hooded crow. [Ireland] -- Coloq. Scald head (Med.), a name popularly given to several diseases of the scalp characterized by pustules (the dried discharge of which forms scales) and by falling out of the hair.
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Scald, n. Scurf on the head. See . Spenser.
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Scald (skăld or sk�ld; 277), n. [Icel. skāld.] One of the ancient Scandinavian poets and historiographers; a reciter and singer of heroic poems, eulogies, etc., among the Norsemen; more rarely, a bard of any of the ancient Teutonic tribes. [Written also skald.]
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A war song such as was of yore chanted on the field of battle by the scalds of the yet heathen Saxons. Sir W. Scott.
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Scalder (?), n. A Scandinavian poet; a scald.
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Scaldfish (?), n. [Scald, a. + fish.] (Zoöl.) A European flounder (Arnoglossus laterna, or Psetta arnoglossa); -- called also megrim, and smooth sole.
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Scaldic (? or ?), a. Of or pertaining to the scalds of the Norsemen; as, scaldic poetry.
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Scale (skāl), n. [AS. scāle; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. skāl balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. scāla, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E. scale of a fish. Cf. of a fish, the brain case.] 1. The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.
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Long time in even scale
The battle hung. Milton.
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The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no more
Now than my vows. Waller.
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2. pl. (Astron.) The sign or constellation Libra.
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Coloq. Platform scale . See under .
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Scale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scaled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scaling.] To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.
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Scaling his present bearing with his past. Shak.
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Coloq. To scale a debt, wages, etc. or Coloq. To scale down a debt, wages, etc. , to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale. [U.S.]
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Scale, n. [Cf. AS. scealu, scalu, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal, G. schale, OHG. scala, Dan. & Sw. skal a shell, Dan. skiæl a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; but perhaps rather fr. OF. escale, escaile, F. écaille scale of a fish, and écale shell of beans, pease, eggs, nuts, of German origin, and akin to Goth. skalja, G. schale. See .] 1. (Anat.) One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See , , and .
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Fish that, with their fins and shining scales,
Glide under the green wave. Milton.
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2. Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.
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3. (Zoöl.) One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See .
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4. (Zoöl.) A scale insect. (See below.)
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5. (Bot.) A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.
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6. The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of .
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7. An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
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8. (Metal.) The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.
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Coloq. Covering scale (Zoöl.), a hydrophyllium. -- Coloq. Ganoid scale . (Zoöl.) See under . -- Coloq. Scale armor (Mil.), armor made of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth. -- Coloq. Scale beetle (Zoöl.), the tiger beetle. -- Coloq. Scale carp (Zoöl.), a carp having normal scales. -- Coloq. Scale insect (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small hemipterous insects belonging to the family Coccidæ, in which the females, when adult, become more or less scalelike in form. They are found upon the leaves and twigs of various trees and shrubs, and often do great damage to fruit trees. See ,under . -- Coloq. Scale moss (Bot.), any leafy-stemmed moss of the order Hepaticæ; -- so called from the small imbricated scalelike leaves of most of the species. See , 2, and .
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