Scarab - Scaup

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{ Scarab (?), Scarabee (?), } n. [L. scarabaeus; cf. F. scarabée.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of lamellicorn beetles of the genus Scarabæus, or family Scarabæidæ, especially the sacred, or Egyptian, species (Scarabæus sacer, and Scarabæus Egyptiorum).
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2. (Egyptian Archæology, Jewelry) A stylized representation of a scarab beetle carved in stone or faience, or made in baked clay, usually in a conventionalized form in which the beetle has its legs held closely at its sides, and commonly having an inscription on the flat underside; -- a symbol of resurrection, used by the ancient Egyptians as an ornament or a talisman, and in modern times used in jewelry, usually by engraving the formalized scarab design on cabuchon stones. Also used attributively; as, a scarab bracelet [a bracelet containing scarabs]; a ring with a scarab [the carved stone itelf].
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Scarabæus (?), n. Same as in both senses.

Scaraboid (?), a. [Scarab + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the family Scarabæidæ, an extensive group which includes the Egyptian scarab, the tumbledung, and many similar lamellicorn beetles.
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Scaraboid, n. (Zoöl.) A scaraboid beetle.
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Scaramouch (?), n. [F. scaramouche, It. scaramuccio, scaramuccia, originally the name of a celebrated Italian comedian; cf. It. scaramuccia, scaramuccio, F. escarmouche, skirmish. Cf. .] A personage in the old Italian comedy (derived from Spain) characterized by great boastfulness and poltroonery; hence, a person of like characteristics; a buffoon.
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Scarce (skârs), a. [Compar. Scarcer (skârsẽr); superl. Scarcest.] [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, excarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see ) + carpere. See , and cf. .] 1. Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon.
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You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen one fifth in value. Locke.
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The scarcest of all is a Pescennius Niger on a medallion well preserved. Addison.
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2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of. [Obs.] “A region scarce of prey.” Milton.
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3. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] “Too scarce ne too sparing.” Chaucer.
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Coloq. To make one's self scarce , to decamp; to depart. [Slang]
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Syn. -- Rare; infrequent; deficient. See .
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{ Scarce, Scarcely, } adv. 1. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but just.
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With a scarce well-lighted flame. Milton.
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The eldest scarcely five year was of age. Chaucer.
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Slowly she sails, and scarcely stems the tides. Dryden.
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He had scarcely finished, when the laborer arrived who had been sent for my ransom. W. Irving.
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2. Frugally; penuriously. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Scarcement (?), n. (Arch. & Engin.) An offset where a wall or bank of earth, etc., retreats, leaving a shelf or footing.
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{ Scarceness (?), Scarcity (?), } n. The quality or condition of being scarce; smallness of quantity in proportion to the wants or demands; deficiency; lack of plenty; short supply; penury; as, a scarcity of grain; a great scarcity of beauties. Chaucer.
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A scarcity of snow would raise a mutiny at Naples. Addison.
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Praise . . . owes its value to its scarcity. Rambler.
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The value of an advantage is enhanced by its scarceness. Collier.
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Syn. -- Deficiency; lack; want; penury; dearth; rareness; rarity; infrequency.
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Scard (?), n. A shard or fragment. [Obs.]
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Scare (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scaring.] [OE. skerren, skeren, Icel. skirra to bar, prevent, skirrask to shun , shrink from; or fr. OE. skerre, adj., scared, Icel. skjarr; both perhaps akin to E. sheer to turn.] To frighten; to strike with sudden fear; to alarm.
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The noise of thy crossbow
Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. Shak.
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Coloq. To scare away , to drive away by frightening. -- Coloq. To scare up , to find by search, as if by beating for game. [Slang]
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Syn. -- To alarm; frighten; startle; affright; terrify.
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Scare, n. Fright; esp., sudden fright produced by a trifling cause, or originating in mistake. [Colloq.]
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Scarecrow (?), n. 1. Anything set up to frighten crows or other birds from cornfields; hence, anything terifying without danger.
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A scarecrow set to frighten fools away. Dryden.
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2. A person clad in rags and tatters.
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No eye hath seen such scarecrows. I'll not march with them through Coventry, that's flat. Shak.
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3. (Zoöl.) The black tern. [Prov. Eng.]
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Scarefire (?), n. 1. An alarm of fire. [Obs.]
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2. A fire causing alarm. [Obs.] Fuller.
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Scarf (skärf), n. [Icel. skarfr.] A cormorant. [Scot.]
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Scarf, n.; pl. Scarfs, rarely Scarves (skärvz). [Cf. OF. escharpe a pilgrim's scrip, or wallet (hanging about the neck), F. écharpe sash, scarf; probably from OHG. scharpe pocket; also (from the French) Dan. skiærf; Sw. skärp, Prov. G. schärfe, LG. scherf, G. schärpe; and also AS. scearf a fragment; possibly akin to E. scrip a wallet. Cf. a scarf.] An article of dress of a light and decorative character, worn loosely over the shoulders or about the neck or the waist; a light shawl or handkerchief for the neck; also, a cravat; a neckcloth.
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Put on your hood and scarf. Swift.
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With care about the banners, scarves, and staves. R. Browning.
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Scarf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scarfed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scarfing.] 1. To throw on loosely; to put on like a scarf. “My sea-gown scarfed about me.” Shak.
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2. To dress with a scarf, or as with a scarf; to cover with a loose wrapping. Shak.
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Scarf, v. t. [Sw. skarfva to eke out, to join together, skarf a seam, joint; cf. Dan. skarre to joint, to unite timber, Icel. skara to clinch the planks of a boat, G. scharben to chop, to cut small.] (a) To form a scarf on the end or edge of, as for a joint in timber, metal rods, etc. (b) To unite, as two pieces of timber or metal, by a scarf joint.
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Scarf (?), n. (a) In a piece which is to be united to another by a scarf joint, the part of the end or edge that is tapered off, rabbeted, or notched so as to be thinner than the rest of the piece. (b) A scarf joint.
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Coloq. Scarf joint (a) A joint made by overlapping and bolting or locking together the ends of two pieces of timber that are halved, notched, or cut away so that they will fit each other and form a lengthened beam of the same size at the junction as elsewhere. (b) A joint formed by welding, riveting, or brazing together the overlapping scarfed ends, or edges, of metal rods, sheets, etc. -- Coloq. Scarf weld . See under .
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Scarfskin (?), n. (Anat.) See .
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Scarification (?), n. [L. scarificatio: cf. F. scarification.] The act of scarifying.
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Scarificator (?), n. [Cf. F. scarificateur.] (Surg.) An instrument, principally used in cupping, containing several lancets moved simultaneously by a spring, for making slight incisions.
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Scarifier (?), n. 1. One who scarifies.
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2. (Surg.) The instrument used for scarifying.
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3. (Agric.) An implement for stripping and loosening the soil, without bringing up a fresh surface.
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You have your scarifiers to make the ground clean. Southey.
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Scarify (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scarified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scarifying (?).] [F. scarifier, L. scarificare, scarifare, fr. Gr. � to scratch up, fr. � a pointed instrument.] 1. To scratch or cut the skin of; esp. (Med.), to make small incisions in, by means of a lancet or scarificator, so as to draw blood from the smaller vessels without opening a large vein.
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2. (Agric.) To stir the surface soil of, as a field.
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{ Scariose (?), Scarious (?), } a. [F. scarieux, NL. scariosus. Cf. .] (Bot.) Thin, dry, membranous, and not green. Gray.
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Scarlatina (?), n. [NL.: cf. F. scarlatine. See .] (Med.) Scarlet fever. -- Scarlatinal (#), a. -- Scarlatinous (# or #), a.
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Scarless (?), a. Free from scar. Drummond.
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Scarlet (?), n. [OE. scarlat, scarlet, OF. escarlate, F. écarlate (cf. Pr. escarlat, escarlata, Sp. & Pg. escarlata, It. scarlatto, LL. scarlatum), from Per. sakirlāt.] A deep bright red tinged with orange or yellow, -- of many tints and shades; a vivid or bright red color.
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2. Cloth of a scarlet color.
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All her household are clothed with scarlet. Prov. xxxi. 21.
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Scarlet, a. Of the color called scarlet; as, a scarlet cloth or thread.
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Coloq. Scarlet admiral (Zoöl.), the red admiral. See under . -- Scarlet bean (Bot.), a kind of bean (Phaseolus multiflorus) having scarlet flowers; scarlet runner. -- Coloq. Scarlet fever (Med.), a contagious febrile disease characterized by inflammation of the fauces and a scarlet rash, appearing usually on the second day, and ending in desquamation about the sixth or seventh day. -- Coloq. Scarlet fish (Zoöl.), the telescope fish; -- so called from its red color. See under . -- Coloq. Scarlet ibis (Zoöl.) See under . -- Coloq. Scarlet maple (Bot.), the red maple. See . -- Coloq. Scarlet mite (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of bright red carnivorous mites found among grass and moss, especially Thombidium holosericeum and allied species. The young are parasitic upon spiders and insects. -- Coloq. Scarlet oak (Bot.), a species of oak (Quercus coccinea) of the United States; -- so called from the scarlet color of its leaves in autumn. -- Coloq. Scarlet runner (Bot.), the scarlet bean. -- Coloq. Scarlet tanager . (Zoöl.) See under .
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Scarlet, v. t. To dye or tinge with scarlet. [R.]
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The ashy paleness of my cheek
Is scarleted in ruddy flakes of wrath. Ford.
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{ Scarmage (?), Scarmoge (?), } n. A slight contest; a skirmish. See . [Obs.]
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Such cruel game my scarmoges disarms. Spenser.
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Scarn (?), n. [Icel. skarn; akin to AS. scearn. Cf. .] Dung. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.
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Coloq. Scarn bee (Zoöl.), a dung beetle.
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Scaroid, a. [Scarus + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Scaridæ, a family of marine fishes including the parrot fishes.
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Scarp (?), n. [OF. escharpe. See 2d .] (Her.) A band in the same position as the bend sinister, but only half as broad as the latter.
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Scarp, n. [Aphetic form of .] 1. (Fort.) The slope of the ditch nearest the parapet; the escarp.
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2. A steep descent or declivity.
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Scarp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scarped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scarping.] To cut down perpendicularly, or nearly so; as, to scarp the face of a ditch or a rock.
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From scarped cliff and quarried stone. Tennyson.
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Sweep ruins from the scarped mountain. Emerson.
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Scarring (?), n. A scar; a mark.
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We find upon the limestone rocks the scarrings of the ancient glacier which brought the bowlder here. Tyndall.
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Scarry (?), a. Bearing scars or marks of wounds.
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Scarry, a. [See 4th .] Like a scar, or rocky eminence; containing scars. Holinshed.
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Scarus (?), n. [L. See a kind of fish.] (Zoöl.) A Mediterranean food fish (Sparisoma scarus) of excellent quality and highly valued by the Romans; -- called also parrot fish.
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Scary (?), n. [Prov. E. scare scraggy.] Barren land having only a thin coat of grass. [Prov. Eng.]
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Scary (?), a. [From .] 1. Subject to sudden alarm. [Colloq. U. S.] Whittier.
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2. Causing fright; alarming. [Colloq. U. S.]
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Scasely (?), adv. Scarcely; hardly. [Obs. or Colloq.] Robynson (More's Utopia)
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Scat (skăt), interj. Go away; begone; away; -- chiefly used in driving off a cat.
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{ Scat, Scatt, } n. [Icel. skattr.] Tribute. [R.] “Seizing scatt and treasure.” Longfellow.
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Scat, n. A shower of rain. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
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Scatch (?), n. [F. escache.] A kind of bit for the bridle of a horse; -- called also scatchmouth. Bailey.
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Scatches (?), n. pl. [OF. eschaces, F. échasses, fr. D. schaats a high-heeled shoe, a skate. See , for the foot.] Stilts. [Prov. Eng.]
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Scate (skāt), n. See , for the foot.
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Scatebrous (?), a. [L. scatebra a gushing up of water, from scatere to bubble, gush.] Abounding with springs. [Obs.]
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Scath (skăth; 277), n. [Icel. skaði; akin to Dan. skade, Sw. skada, AS. sceaða, scaða, foe, injurer, OS. skaðo, D. schade, harm, injury, OHG. scade, G. schade, schaden; cf. Gr. 'askhqhs unharmed. Cf. , v.] Harm; damage; injury; hurt; waste; misfortune. [Written also scathe.]
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But she was somedeal deaf, and that was skathe. Chaucer.
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Great mercy, sure, for to enlarge a thrall,
Whose freedom shall thee turn to greatest scath. Spenser.
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Wherein Rome hath done you any scath,
Let him make treble satisfaction. Shak.
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{ Scathe (skā�; 277), Scath (skăth; 277), } v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scathed (skā�d or skătht); p. pr. & vb. n. Scathing (skā�ĭng or skăth-).] [Icel. skaða; akin to AS. sceaðan, sceððan, Dan. skade, Sw. skada, D. & G. schaden, OHG. scadōn, Goth. skaþjan.] To do harm to; to injure; to damage; to waste; to destroy.
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As when heaven's fire
Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines. Milton.
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Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul. W. Irving.
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Scathful (?), a. Harmful; doing damage; pernicious. Shak.
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-- Scathfulness, n.
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Scathless, a. Unharmed. R. L. Stevenson.
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He, too, . . . is to be dismissed scathless. Sir W. Scott.
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Scathly, a. Injurious; scathful. [Obs.]
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Scatter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scattering.] [OE. scateren. See .] 1. To strew about; to sprinkle around; to throw down loosely; to deposit or place here and there, esp. in an open or sparse order.
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And some are scattered all the floor about. Chaucer.
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Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains,
Their scattered cottages, and ample plains? Dryden.
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Teach the glad hours to scatter, as they fly,
Soft quiet, gentle love, and endless joy. Prior.
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2. To cause to separate in different directions; to reduce from a close or compact to a loose or broken order; to dissipate; to disperse.
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Scatter and disperse the giddy Goths. Shak.
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3. Hence, to frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow; as, to scatter hopes, plans, or the like.
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Syn. -- To disperse; dissipate; spread; strew.
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Scatter, v. i. To be dispersed or dissipated; to disperse or separate; as, clouds scatter after a storm.
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Scatter-brain (?), n. A giddy or thoughtless person; one incapable of concentration or attention. [Written also scatter-brains.]
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Scatter-brained (?), a. Giddy; thoughtless.
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Scattered (?), a. 1. Dispersed; dissipated; sprinkled, or loosely spread.
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2. (Bot.) Irregular in position; having no regular order; as, scattered leaves.
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-- Scatteredly, adv. -- Scatteredness, n.
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Scattergood (?), n. One who wastes; a spendthrift.
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Scattering, a. Going or falling in various directions; not united or aggregated; divided among many; as, scattering votes.
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Scattering, n. Act of strewing about; something scattered. South.
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Scatteringly, adv. In a scattering manner; dispersedly.
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Scatterling (?), n. [Scatter + -ling.] One who has no fixed habitation or residence; a vagabond. [Obs.] “Foreign scatterlings.” Spenser.
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Scaturient (?), a.[L. scaturiens, p. pr. of scaturire gush out, from scatere to bubble, gush.] Gushing forth; full to overflowing; effusive. [R.]
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A pen so scaturient and unretentive. Sir W. Scott.
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Scaturiginous (?), a. [L. scaturiginosus, fr. scaturigo gushing water. See .] Abounding with springs. [Obs.]
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Scaup (sk�p), n. [See a bed of oysters or mussels.] 1. A bed or stratum of shellfish; scalp. [Scot.]
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2. (Zoöl.) A scaup duck. See below.
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Coloq. Scaup duck (Zoöl.), any one of several species of northern ducks of the genus Aythya, or Fuligula. The adult males are, in large part, black. The three North American species are: the greater scaup duck (Aythya marila, var. nearctica), called also broadbill, bluebill, blackhead, flock duck, flocking fowl, and raft duck; the lesser scaup duck (A. affinis), called also little bluebill, river broadbill, and shuffler; the tufted, or ring-necked, scaup duck (A. collaris), called also black jack, ringneck, ringbill, ringbill shuffler, etc. See Illust. of Ring-necked duck, under . The common European scaup, or mussel, duck (A. marila), closely resembles the American variety.
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