S (continued 6)

SCRUBBED Scrub"bed, a.

Defn: Dwarfed or stunted; scrubby.

SCRUBBER Scrub"ber, n.

1. One who, or that which, scrubs; esp., a brush used in scrubbing.

2. (Gas Manuf.)

Defn: A gas washer. See under Gas.

SCRUBBOARD Scrub"board`, n.

Defn: A baseboard; a mopboard.

SCRUBBY Scrub"by, a. [Compar. Scrubbier; superl. Scrubbiest.]

Defn: Of the nature of scrub; small and mean; stunted in growth; as, a scrubby cur. "Dense, scrubby woods." Duke of Argull.

SCRUBSTONE Scrub"stone`, n.

Defn: A species of calciferous sandstone. [Prov. Eng.]

SCRUFF Scruff, n. Etym: [See Scurf.]

Defn: Scurf. [Obs.]

SCRUFF Scruff, n. Etym: [Cf. Scuff.]

Defn: The nape of the neck; the loose outside skin, as of the back of the neck.

SCRUMMAGE Scrum"mage (; 43), n.

Defn: See Scrimmage.

SCRUMPTIOUS Scrump"tious, a.

Defn: Nice; particular; fastidious; excellent; fine. [Slang]

SCRUNCH Scrunch, v. t. & v. i. Etym: [Cf. Scranch, Crunch.]

Defn: To scranch; to crunch. Dickens.

SCRUPLE Scru"ple, n. Etym: [L. scrupulus a small sharp or pointed stone, the twenty-fourth part of an ounce, a scruple, uneasiness, doubt, dim. of scrupus a rough or sharp stone, anxiety, uneasiness; perh. akin to Gr. kshura: cf. F. scrupule.]

1. A weight of twenty grains; the third part of a dram.

2. Hence, a very small quantity; a particle. I will not bate thee a scruple. Shak.

3. Hesitation as to action from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient; unwillingness, doubt, or hesitation proceeding from motives of conscience. He was made miserable by the conflict between his tastes and his scruples. Macaulay. To make scruple, to hesitate from conscientious motives; to scruple. Locke.

SCRUPLE Scru"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scrupled; p. pr. & vb. n. Skrupling.]

Defn: To be reluctant or to hesitate, as regards an action, on account of considerations of conscience or expedience. We are often over-precise, scrupling to say or do those things which lawfully we may. Fuller. Men scruple at the lawfulness of a set form of divine worship. South.

SCRUPLE Scru"ple, v. t.

1. To regard with suspicion; to hesitate at; to question. Others long before them . . . scrupled more the books of hereties than of gentiles. Milton.

2. To excite scruples in; to cause to scruple. [R.] Letters which did still scruple many of them. E. Symmons.

SCRUPLER Scru"pler, n.

Defn: One who scruples.

SCRUPULIST Scru"pu*list, n.

Defn: A scrupler. [Obs.]

SCRUPULIZE Scru"pu*lize, v. t.

Defn: To perplex with scruples; to regard with scruples. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

SCRUPULOSITY Scru`pu*los"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. scrupulositas.]

Defn: The quality or state of being scruppulous; doubt; doubtfulness respecting decision or action; caution or tenderness from the far of doing wrong or ofending; nice regard to exactness and propierty; precision. The first sacrilege is looked on with horror; but when they have made the breach, their scrupulosity soon retires. Dr. H. More. Careful, even to scrupulosity, . . . to keep their Sabbath. South.

SCRUPULOUS Scru"pu*lous, a. Etym: [L. scrupulosus: cf. F. scrupuleux.]

1. Full ofscrupules; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to determine or to act, from a fear of offending or of doing wrong. Abusing their liberty, to the offense of their weak brethren which were scrupulous. Hooker.

2. Careful; cautious; exact; nice; as, scrupulous abstinence from labor; scrupulous performance of duties.

3. Given to making objections; captious. [Obs.] Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction. Shak.

4. Liable to be doubted; doubtful; nice. [Obs.] The justice of that cause ought to be evident; not obscrure, not scrupulous. Bacon.

Syn. — Cautious; careful; conscientious; hesitating. — Scru"pu*lous*ly, adv. — Scru"pu*lous*ness, n.

SCRUTABLE Scru"ta*ble, a.

Defn: Discoverable by scrutiny, inquiry, or critical examination. [R.] r. H. More.

SCRUTATION Scru*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. scrutatio.]

Defn: Search; scrutiny. [Obs.]

SCRUTATOR Scru*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who scrutinizes; a close examiner or inquirer. Ayliffe.

SCRUTIN DE LISTE Scru`tin" de liste" (skrus`taN" de lest). [F., voting by list.]

Defn: Voting for a group of candidates for the same kind of office on one ticket or ballot, containing a list of them; — the method, used in France, as from June, 1885, to Feb., 1889, in elections for the Chamber of Deputies, each elector voting for the candidates for the whole department in which he lived, as disting. from scrutin d'arrondissement (da`rôN`des`mäN"), or voting by each elector for the candidate or candidates for his own arrondissement only.

SCRUTINEER Scru`ti*neer, n.

Defn: A scrutinizer; specifically, an examiner of votes, as at an election.

SCRUTINIZE Scru"ti*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scrutinized; p. pr. & vb. n. Scrutinizing.] Etym: [From Scrutiny.]

Defn: To examine closely; to inspect or observe with critical attention; to regard narrowly; as, to scrutinize the measures of administration; to scrutinize the conduct or motives of individuals. Whose votes they were obliged to scrutinize. Ayliffe. Thscrutinized his face the closest. G. W. Cable.

SCRUTINIZE Scru"ti*nize, v. i.

Defn: To make scrutiny.

SCRUTINIZER Scru"ti*ni`zer, n.

Defn: One who scrutinizes.

SCRUTINOUS Scru"ti*nous, a.

Defn: Closely examining, or inquiring; careful; sctrict. — Scru"ti*nous*ly, adv.

SCRUTINY Scru"ti*ny, n. Etym: [L. scrutinium, fr. scrutari to search carefuly, originally, to search even to the rags, fr. scruta trash, trumpery; perhaps akin to E. shred: cf. AS. scrudnian to make scrutiny.]

1. Close examination; minute inspection; critical observation. They that have designed exactness and deep scrutiny have taken some one part of nature. Sir M. Hale. Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view And narrower scrutiny. Milton.

2. (Anc. Church)

Defn: An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.

3. (Canon Law)

Defn: A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.

4. (Parliamentary Practice)

Defn: An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll. Brande & C.

SCRUTINY Scru"ti*ny, v. t.

Defn: To scrutinize. [Obs.]

SCRUTOIRE Scru*toire", n. Etym: [OF. escritoire. See Escritoire.]

Defn: A escritoire; a writing desk.

SCRUZE Scruze, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Excruciate.]

Defn: To squeeze, compress, crush, or bruise. [Obs. or Low] Spenser.

SCRY Scry, v. t.

Defn: To descry. [Obs.] Spenser.

SCRY Scry, n. Etym: [From Scry, v.]

Defn: A flock of wild fowl.

SCRY Scry, n. Etym: [OE. ascrie, fr. ascrien to cry out, fr. OF. escrier, F. s'écrier. See Ex-, and Cry.]

Defn: A cry or shout. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.

SCUD Scud, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scudded; p. pr. & vb. n. Scudding.] Etym: [Dan. skyde to shoot, shove, push, akin to skud shot, gunshot, a shoot, young bough, and to E. shoot. sq. root159. See Shoot.]

1. To move swiftly; especially, to move as if driven forward by something. The first nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm primeval oceans. I. Taylor. The wind was high; the vast white clouds scudded over the blue heaven. Beaconsfield.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To be driven swiftly, or to run, before a gale, with little or no sail spread.

SCUD Scud, v. t.

Defn: To pass over quickly. [R.] Shenstone.

SCUD Scud, n.

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. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small flight of larks, or other birds, less than a flock. [Prov. Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any swimming amphipod crustacean. Storm scud. See the Note under Cloud.

SCUDDLE Scud"dle, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of scud: cf. Scuttle to hurry.]

Defn: To run hastily; to hurry; to scuttle.

SCUDO Scu"do, n.; pl. Scudi. Etym: [It., a crown, a dollar, a shield, fr. L. scutum a shield. Cf. Scute.] (Com.) (a) A silver coin, and money of account, used in Italy and Sicily, varying in value, in different parts, but worth about 4 shillings sterling, or about 96 cents; also, a gold coin worth about the same. (b) A gold coin of Rome, worth 64 shillings 11 pence sterling, or about $ 15.70.

SCUFF Scuff, n. Etym: [Cf. D. schoft shoulder, Goth. skuft hair of the head. Cf. Scruff.]

Defn: The back part of the neck; the scruff. [Prov. Eng.] Ld. Lytton.

SCUFF Scuff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scuffing.] Etym: [See Scuffle.]

Defn: To walk without lifting the feet; to proceed with a scraping or dragging movement; to shuffle.

SCUFFLE Scuf"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Scuffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scuffling.] Etym: [Freq. of scuff, v.i.; cf. Sw. skuffa to push, shove, skuff a push, Dan. skuffe a drawer, a shovel, and E. shuffle, shove. See Shove, and cf. Shuffle.]

1. To strive or struggle with a close grapple; to wrestle in a rough fashion.

2. Hence, to strive or contend tumultuously; to struggle confusedly or at haphazard. A gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantage in the field, in an orderly way, than scuffle with an undisciplined rabble. Eikon Basilike.

SCUFFLE Scuf"fle, n.

1. A rough, haphazard struggle, or trial of strength; a disorderly wrestling at close quarters.

2. Hence, a confused contest; a tumultuous struggle for superiority; a fight. The dog leaps upon the serpent, and tears it to pieces; but in the scuffle the cradle happened to be overturned. L'Estrange.

3. A child's pinafore or bib. [Prov. Eng.]

4. A garden hoe. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCUFFLER Scuf"fler, n.

1. One who scuffles.

2. An agricultural implement resembling a scarifier, but usually lighter.

SCUG Scug, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. skugge to darken, a shade, SW. skugga to shade, a shade, Icel. skuggja to shade, skuggi a shade.]

Defn: To hide. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCUG Scug, n.

Defn: A place of shelter; the declivity of a hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCULK; SCULKER Sculk, Sculk"er.

Defn: See Skulk, Skulker.

SCULL Scull, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The skull. [Obs.]

SCULL Scull, n. Etym: [See 1st School.]

Defn: A shoal of fish. Milton.

SCULL Scull, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. skola to wash.]

1. (Naut.) (a) A boat; a cockboat. See Sculler. (b) One of a pair of short oars worked by one person. (c) A single oar used at the stern in propelling a boat.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common skua gull. [Prov. Eng.]

SCULL Scull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sculled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sculling.] (Naut.)

Defn: To impel (a boat) with a pair of sculls, or with a single scull or oar worked over the stern obliquely from side to side.

SCULL Scull, v. i.

Defn: To impel a boat with a scull or sculls.

SCULLER Scull"er, n.

1. A boat rowed by one man with two sculls, or short oars. [R.] Dryden.

2. One who sculls.

SCULLERY Scul"ler*y, n.; pl. Sculleries. Etym: [Probably originally, a place for washing dishes, and for swillery, fr. OE. swilen to wash, AS. swilian (see Swill to wash, to drink), but influenced either by Icel. skola, skyla, Dan. skylle, or by OF. escuelier a place for keeping dishes, fr. escuele a dish, F. écuelle, fr. L. scutella a salver, waiter (cf. Scuttle a basket); or perhaps the English word is immediately from the OF. escuelier; cf. OE. squyllare a dishwasher.]

1. A place where dishes, kettles, and culinary utensils, are cleaned and kept; also, a room attached to the kitchen, where the coarse work is done; a back kitchen.

2. Hence, refuse; fifth; offal. [Obs.] auden.

SCULLION Scul"lion, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A scalion.

SCULLION Scul"lion, n. Etym: [OF. escouillon (Cot.) a dishclout, apparently for escouvillon, F. écouvillon a swab; cf. also OF. souillon a servant employed for base offices. Cf. Scovel.]

Defn: A servant who cleans pots and kettles, and does other menial services in the kitchen. The meanest scullion that followed his camp. South.

SCULLIONLY Scul"lion*ly, a.

Defn: Like a scullion; base. [Obs.] Milton.

SCULP Sculp, v. t. Etym: [See Sculptor.]

Defn: To sculpture; to carve; to engrave. [Obs. or Humorous.] Sandys.

SCULPIN Scul"pin, n. Etym: [Written also skulpin.] (Zoöl.) (a) 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. (b) A large cottoid market fish of California (Scorpænichthys marmoratus); — called also bighead, cabezon, scorpion, salpa. (c) The dragonet, or yellow sculpin, of Europe (Callionymus lura).

Note: The name is also applied to other related California species. Deep-water sculpin, the sea raven.

SCULPTILE Sculp"tile, a. Etym: [L. sculptilis. See Sculptor.]

Defn: Formed by carving; graven; as, sculptile images. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SCULPTOR Sculp"tor, n. Etym: [L. sculptor, fr. sculpere, sculptum, to carve; cf. scalpere to cut, carve, scratch, and Gr. sculpteur.]

1. One who sculptures; one whose occupation is to carve statues, or works of sculpture.

2. Hence, an artist who designs works of sculpture, his first studies and his finished model being usually in a plastic material, from which model the marble is cut, or the bronze is cast.

SCULPTRESS Sculp"tress, n.

Defn: A female sculptor.

SCULPTURAL Sculp"tur*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to sculpture. G. Eliot.

SCULPTURE Sculp"ture, n. Etym: [L. sculptura: cf. F. 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.

SCULPTURE Sculp"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sculptured (; p. pr. & vb. n. Sculpturing.]

Defn: To form with the chisel on, in, or from, wood, stone, or metal; to carve; to engrave. Sculptured tortoise (Zoöl.), a common North American wood tortoise (Glyptemys insculpta). The shell is marked with strong grooving and ridges which resemble sculptured figures.

SCULPTURESQUE Sculp`tur*esque", a.

Defn: After the manner of sculpture; resembling, or relating to, sculpture.

SCUM Scum, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. skum, Icel. sk, LG. schum, D. schuim, OHG. sc, G. schaum; probably from a root meaning, to cover. sq. root158. Cf. Hide skin, Meerschaum, Skim, v., Sky.]

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.

SCUM Scum, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scumming.]

1. To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim. You that scum the molten lead. Dryden & Lee.

2. To sweep or range over the surface of. [Obs.] Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates. Milton.

SCUM Scum, v. i.

Defn: To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively. Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over. A. K. H. Boyd.

SCUMBER Scum"ber, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Discumber.]

Defn: To void excrement. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Massinger.

SCUMBER Scum"ber, n.

Defn: Dung. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SCUMBLE Scum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scumbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scumbling.] Etym: [Freq. of scum. sq. root 158.] (Fine Arts)

Defn: To cover lighty, as a painting, or a drawing, with a thin wash of opaque color, or with color-crayon dust rubbed on with the stump, or to make any similar additions to the work, so as to produce a softened effect.

SCUMBLING Scum"bling, n.

1. (Fine Arts) (a) A mode of obtaining a softened effect, in painting and drawing, by the application of a thin layer of opaque color to the surface of a painting, or part of the surface, which is too bright in color, or which requires harmonizing. (b) In crayon drawing, the use of the stump.

2. The color so laid on. Also used figuratively. Shining above the brown scumbling of leafless orchards. L. Wallace.

SCUMMER Scum"mer, v. i.

Defn: To scumber. [Obs.] Holland.

SCUMMER Scum"mer, n.

Defn: Excrement; scumber. [Obs.]

SCUMMER Scum"mer, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. escumoire, F. écumoire. See Scum, and cf. Skimmer.]

Defn: An instrument for taking off scum; a skimmer.

SCUMMING Scum"ming, n. (a) The act of taking off scum. (b) That which is scummed off; skimmings; scum; — used chiefly in the plural.

SCUMMY Scum"my, a.

Defn: Covered with scum; of the nature of scum. Sir P. Sidney.

SCUNNER Scun"ner, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Shun.]

Defn: To cause to loathe, or feel disgust at. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

SCUNNER Scun"ner, v. i.

Defn: To have a feeling of loathing or disgust; hence, to have dislike, prejudice, or reluctance. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] C. Kingsley.

SCUNNER Scun"ner, n.

Defn: A feeling of disgust or loathing; a strong prejudice; abhorrence; as, to take a scunner against some one. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Carlyle.

SCUP Scup, n. Etym: [D. schop.]

Defn: A swing. [Local, U.S.]

SCUP Scup, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. American Indian mishcùp, fr. mishe-kuppi large, thick-scaled.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

Note: The same names are also applied to a closely allied Southern species. (Stenotomus Gardeni).

SCUPPAUG Scup"paug, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. Amer. Indian mishcuppauog, pl. of mishcup.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 2d Scup.

SCUPPER Scup"per, n. Etym: [OF. escopir, escupir, to spit, perhaps for escospir, L. ex + conspuere to spit upon; pref. con- + spuere to spit. Cf. Spit, v.] (Naut.)

Defn: 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 (Naut.), a pipe of leather, canvas, etc., attached to the mouth of the scuppers, on the outside of a vessel, to prevent the water from entering. Totten. — Scupper nail (Naut.), a nail with a very broad head, for securing the edge of the hose to the scupper. — Scupper plug (Naut.), a plug to stop a scupper. Totten.

SCUPPERNONG Scup"per*nong, n. Etym: [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Bot.)

Defn: An American grape, a form of Vitis vulpina, found in the Southern Atlantic States, and often cultivated.

SCUR Scur, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Scour to run.]

Defn: To move hastily; to scour. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SCURF Scurf, n. Etym: [AS. scurf, sceorf, or from Scand.; cf. Sw. skorf, Dan. skurv, Icel. skurfur, D. schurft, G. schorf; all akin to AS. scurf, and to AS. sceorfan to scrape, to gnaw, G. schürfen to scrape, and probably also to E. scrape. Cf. Scurvy.]

1. Thin dry scales or scabs upon the body; especially, thin scales exfoliated from the cuticle, particularly of the scalp; dandruff.

2. Hence, the foul remains of anything adherent. The scurf is worn away of each committed crime. Dryden.

3. Anything like flakes or scales adhering to a surface. There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire Shone with a glossy scurf. Milton.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot. Gray.

SCURFF Scurff, n.

Defn: The bull trout. [Prov. Eng.]

SCURFINESS Scurf"i*ness, n.

1. Quality or state of being scurfy.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Scurf.

SCURFY Scurf"y, a. [Compar. Scurfier; superl. Scurfiest.]

Defn: Having or producing scurf; covered with scurf; resembling scurf.

SCURRIER Scur"ri*er, n.

Defn: One who scurries.

SCURRILE Scur"rile, a. Etym: [L. scurrilis, fr. scurra a bufoon, jester: cf. F. scurrile.]

Defn: Such as befits a buffoon or vulgar jester; grossly opprobrious or loudly jocose in language; scurrilous; as, scurrile taunts. The wretched affectation of scurrile laughter. Cowley. A scurrile or obscene jest will better advance you at the court of Charles than father's ancient name. Sir W. Scott.

SCURRILITY Scur*ril"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. scurrilitas: cf. F.scurrilité.]

1. The quality or state of being scurrile or scurrilous; mean, vile, or obscene jocularity. Your reasons . . . have been sharp and sententious, pleasant without scurrility. Shak.

2. That which is scurrile or scurrilous; gross or obscene language; low buffoonery; vulgar abuse. Interrupting prayers and sermons with clamor and scurrility. Macaulay.

Syn. — Scurrilousness; abuse; insolence; vulgarity; indecency.

SCURRILOUS Scur"ril*ous, a. Etym: [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 Scur"rit, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the lesser tern (Sterna minuta). [Prov. Eng.]

SCURRY Scur"ry, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Scur, Skirr.]

Defn: To hasten away or along; to move rapidly; to hurry; as, the rabbit scurried away.

SCURRY Scur"ry, n.

Defn: Act of scurring; hurried movement.

SCURVILY Scur"vi*ly, adv.

Defn: In a scurvy manner.

SCURVINESS Scur"vi*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being scurvy; vileness; meanness.

SCURVY Scur"vy, a. [Compar. Scurvier; superl. Scurviest.] Etym: [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 Scur"vy, n. Etym: [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.)

Defn: 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. Scurvy grass Etym: [Scurvy + grass; or cf. Icel. skarfakal 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 Scut, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skott a fox's tail. sq. root 159.] [Obs.]

Defn: 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 Scu"ta, n. pl.

Defn: See Scutum.

SCUTAGE Scu"tage (; 48), n. Etym: [LL. scutagium, from L. scutum a shield.] (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: Shield money; commutation of service for a sum of money. See Escuage.

SCUTAL Scu"tal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a shield. A good example of these scutal monstrosities. Cussans.

SCUTATE Scu"tate, a. Etym: [L. scutatus armed with a shield, from scutum a shield.]

1. Buckler-shaped; round or nearly round.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Protected or covered by bony or horny plates, or large scales.

SCUTCH Scutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scutched; p. pr. & vb. n. Scutching.] Etym: [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 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 Scutch"eon, n. Etym: [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 Scutch"eoned, a.

Defn: Emblazoned on or as a shield. Scutcheoned panes in cloisters old. Lowell.

SCUTCHER 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 Scutch" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of pasture grass (Cynodon Dactylon). See Bermuda grass: also Illustration in Appendix.

SCUTE Scute, n. Etym: [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. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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 Scu*tel"la, n. pl.

Defn: See Scutellum.

SCUTELLA Scu*tel"la, n.; pl. Scutelle. Etym: [NL., fem. dim. of L. scutum.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Scutellum, n., 2.

SCUTELLATE; SCUTELLATED Scu"tel*late, Scu"tel*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. scutella a dish, salver. Cf. Scuttle a basket.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Formed like a plate or salver; composed of platelike surfaces; as, the scutellated bone of a sturgeon. Woodward.

2. Etym: [See Scutellum.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the tarsi covered with broad transverse scales, or scutella; — said of certain birds.

SCUTELLATION Scu`tel*la"tion, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the entire covering, or mode of arrangement, of scales, as on the legs and feet of a bird.

SCUTELLIFORM Scu*tel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. scutella a dish + -form.]

1. Scutellate.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a scutellum.

SCUTELLIPLANTAR Scu*tel`li*plan"tar, a. Etym: [L. scutellus a shield + planta foot.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having broad scutella on the front, and small scales on the posterior side, of the tarsus; — said of certain birds.

SCUTELLUM Scu*tel"lum, n.; pl. Scutella. Etym: [NL., neut. dim. of L. scutum a shield.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A rounded apothecium having an elevated rim formed of the proper thallus, the fructification of certain lichens.

2. (Zoöl.) (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 Scu"ti*branch, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Scutibranchiate. — n.

Defn: One of the Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIBRANCHIA Scu`ti*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIBRANCHIAN Scu`ti*bran"chi*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIBRANCHIATA Scu`ti*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Scutum, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of gastropod Mollusca having a heart with two auricles and one ventricle. The shell may be either spiral or shieldlike.

Note: 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 Scu`ti*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the gills protected by a shieldlike shell; of or pertaining to the Scutibranchiata. — n.

Defn: One of the Scutibranchiata.

SCUTIFEROUS Scu*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. scutum shield + -ferous.]

Defn: Carrying a shield or buckler.

SCUTIFORM Scu"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. scutum shield + -form: cf. F. scutiforme.]

Defn: Shield-shaped; scutate.

SCUTIGER Scu"ti*ger, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. scutum shield + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of chilopod myriapods of the genus Scutigera. They sometimes enter buildings and prey upon insects.

SCUTIPED Scu"ti*ped, a. Etym: [L. scutum a shield + pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. scutipède.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

SCUTTER Scut"ter, v. i. [Cf. Scuttle, v. i.]

Defn: To run quickly; to scurry; to scuttle. [Prov. Eng.]

A mangy little jackal . . . cocked up his ears and tail, and scuttered across the shallows. Kipling.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, n. Etym: [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 Scut"tle, v. i. Etym: [For scuddle, fr. scud.]

Defn: 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 Scut"tle, n.

Defn: A quick pace; a short run. Spectator.

SCUTTLE Scut"tle, n. Etym: [OF. escoutille, F. éscoutille, 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, or 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. Totten.

SCUTTLE 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.

SCUTUM Scu"tum, n.; pl. Scuta. Etym: [L.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: 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)

Defn: A penthouse or awning. [Obs.] Burrill.

3. (Zoöl.) (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 Scyb"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Hardened masses of feces.

SCYE Scye, n.

Defn: Arm scye, a cutter's term for the armhole or part of the armhole of the waist of a garnment. [Cant]

SCYLE Scyle, v. t. Etym: [AS. scylan to withdraw or remowe.]

Defn: To hide; to secrete; to conceal. [Obs.]

SCYLLA Scyl"la, n.

Defn: 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.

SCYLLAEA Scyl*læ"a, n. Etym: [NL. See Scylla.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

Note: In color and form these mollusks closely imitate the fronds of sargassum and other floathing seaweeds among which they live.

SCYLLARIAN Scyl*la"ri*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a family (Scyllaridæ) of macruran Crustacea, remarkable for the depressed form of the body, and the broad, flat antennæ. Also used adjectively.

SCYLLITE Scyl"lite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: 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 Scym"e*tar, n.

Defn: See Scimiter.

SCYPHA Scy"pha, n.; pl. Scyphae. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Scyphus, 2 (b).

SCYPHIFORM Scy"phi*form, a. Etym: [L. scyphus a cup + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Cup-shaped.

SCYPHISTOMA Scy*phis"to*ma, n.; pl. Scyphistomata, Scyphistomæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The young attached larva of Discophora in the stage when it resembles a hydroid, or actinian.

SCYPHOBRANCHII Scy`pho*bran"chi*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fishes including the blennioid and gobioid fishes, and other related families.

SCYPHOMEDUSA; SCYPHOMEDUSAE Scy`pho*me*du"sa, Scy`pho*me*du"sae, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. medusa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Acraspeda, or Discophora.

SCYPHOPHORI Scy*phoph"o*ri, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fresh-water fishes inhabiting tropical Africa. They have rudimentary electrical organs on each side of the tail.

SCYPHUS Scy"phus, n.; pl. Scyphi. Etym: [L., a cup, Gr.

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: 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 Scythe (sith), n. Etym: [OE. sithe, AS. si\'ebe, sigthe; akin to Icel. sigthr 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.)

Defn: A scythe-shaped blade attached to ancient war chariots.

SCYTHE Scythe, v. t.

Defn: 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 Scythed, a.

Defn: Armed scythes, as a chariot. Chariots scythed, On thundering axles rolled. Glover.

SCYTHEMAN Scythe"man, n.; pl. Scythemen (.

Defn: One who uses a scythe; a mower. Macaulay.

SCYTHESTONE Scythe"stone`, n.

Defn: A stone for sharpening scythes; a whetstone.

SCYTHEWHET Scythe"whet`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Wilson's thrush; — so called from its note. [Local, U.S.]

SCYTHIAN Scyth"i*an, a.

Defn: 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 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 Scy`to*der"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Holothurioidea.

SDAIN Sdain, v. & n.

Defn: Disdain. [Obs.] Spenser.

'SDEATH 'Sdeath, interj. Etym: [Corrupted fr. God's death.]

Defn: An exclamation expressive of impatience or anger. Shak.

SDEIGN Sdeign, v. t.

Defn: To disdain. [Obs.] But either sdeigns with other to partake. Spenser.

SEA Sea, n. Etym: [OE. see, AS. sæ; akin to D. zee, OS. & OHG. seo, G. see, OFries. se, Dan. sö, Sw. sjö, Icel. sær, Goth. saiws, and perhaps to L. saevus firce, savage. sq. root 151 a.]

1. One of the larger bodies of salt water, less than an ocean, found on the earth's surface; a body of salt water of second rank, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea; as, the Mediterranean Sea; the Sea of Marmora; the North Sea; the Carribean Sea.

2. An inland body of water, esp. if large or if salt or brackish; as, the Caspian Sea; the Sea of Aral; sometimes, a small fresh-water lake; as, the Sea of Galilee.

3. The ocean; the whole body of the salt water which covers a large part of the globe. I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. Shak. Ambiguous between sea and land The river horse and scaly crocodile. Milton.

4. The swell of the ocean or other body of water in a high wind; motion of the water's surface; also, a single wave; a billow; as, there was a high sea after the storm; the vessel shipped a sea.

5. (Jewish Antiq.)

Defn: A great brazen laver in the temple at Jerusalem; — so called from its size. He made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof. 2 Chron. iv. 2.

6. Fig.: Anything resembling the sea in vastness; as, a sea of glory. Shak. All the space . . . was one sea of heads. Macaulay.

Note: Sea is often used in the composition of words of obvious signification; as, sea-bathed, sea-beaten, sea-bound, sea-bred, sea- circled, sealike, sea-nursed, sea-tossed, sea-walled, sea-worn, and the like. It is also used either adjectively or in combination with substantives; as, sea bird, sea-bird, or seabird, sea acorn, or sea- acorn. At sea, upon the ocean; away from land; figuratively, without landmarks for guidance; lost; at the mercy of circumstances. "To say the old man was at sea would be too feeble an expression." G. W. Cable — At full sea at the height of flood tide; hence, at the height. "But now God's mercy was at full sea." Jer. Taylor. — Beyond seas, or Beyond the sea or the seas (Law), out of the state, territory, realm, or country. Wharton. — Half seas over, half drunk. [Colloq.] Spectator. — Heavy sea, a sea in which the waves run high. — Long sea, a sea characterized by the uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves. — Short sea, a sea in which the waves are short, broken, and irregular, so as to produce a tumbling or jerking motion. — To go to sea, a adopt the calling or occupation of a sailor.

SEA ACORN Sea" a"corn. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An acorn barnacle (Balanus).

SEA ADDER Sea" ad"der. (Zoöl.) (a) The European fifteen-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus spinachia); — called also bismore. (b) The European tanglefish, or pipefish (Syngnathus acus).

SEA ANCHOR Sea" an"chor. (Naut.)

Defn: See Drag sail, under 4th Drag.

SEA ANEMONE Sea" a*nem"o*ne. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of soft-bodied Anthozoa, belonging to the order Actrinaria; an actinian.

Note: They have the oral disk surrounded by one or more circles of simple tapering tentacles, which are often very numerous, and when expanded somewhat resemble the petals of flowers, with colors varied and often very beautiful.

SEA APE Sea" ape`. (Zoöl.) (a) The thrasher shark. (b) The sea otter.

SEA APPLE Sea" ap"ple. (Bot.)

Defn: The fruit of a West Indian palm (Manicaria Plukenetii), often found floating in the sea. A. Grisebach.

SEA ARROW Sea" ar"row. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A squid of the genus Ommastrephes. See Squid.

SEA BANK Sea" bank`.

1. The seashore. Shak.

2. A bank or mole to defend against the sea.

SEA-BAR Sea"-bar`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern.

SEA BARROW Sea" bar"row. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea purse.

SEA BASS Sea" bass`.

Defn: ((Zoöl.) (a) A large marine food fish (Serranus, or Centropristis, atrarius) which abounds on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It is dark bluish, with black bands, and more or less varied with small white spots and blotches. Called also, locally, blue bass, black sea bass, blackfish, bluefish, and black perch. (b) A California food fish (Cynoscion nobile); — called also white sea bass, and sea salmon.

SEA BAT Sea" bat`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Batfish (a).

SEABEACH Sea"beach`, n.

Defn: A beach lying along the sea. "The bleak seabeach." Longfellow.

SEA BEAN Sea" bean. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Florida bean.

SEA BEAR Sea" bear`. (Zoöl.) (a) Any fur seal. See under Fur. (b) The white bear.

SEABEARD Sea"beard`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A green seaweed (Cladophora rupestris) growing in dense tufts.

SEA BEAST Sea" beast`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large marine mammal, as a seal, walrus, or cetacean.

SEA BIRD Sea" bird`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any swimming bird frequenting the sea; a sea fowl.

SEA BLITE Sea" blite`. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Suæda maritima) of the Goosefoot family, growing in salt marches.

SEA-BLUBBER Sea"-blub"ber, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A jellyfish.

SEABOARD Sea"board`, n. Etym: [Sea + board, F. bord side.]

Defn: The seashore; seacoast. Ld. Berners.

SEABOARD Sea"board`, a.

Defn: Bordering upon, or being near, the sea; seaside; seacoast; as, a seaboard town.

SEABOARD Sea"board`, adv.

Defn: Toward the sea. [R.]

SEABOAT Sea"boat`. Etym: [AS. sæbat.]

1. A boat or vessel adapted to the open sea; hence, a vessel considered with reference to her power of resisting a storm, or maintaining herself in a heavy sea; as, a good sea boat.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chitin.

SEABORD Sea"bord`, n. & a.

Defn: See Seaboard.

SEA-BORDERING Sea"-bor"der*ing, a.

Defn: Bordering on the sea; situated beside the sea. Drayton.

SEA-BORN Sea"-born`, a.

1. Born of the sea; produced by the sea. "Neptune and his sea-born niece." Waller.

2. Born at sea.

SEABOUND Sea"bound`, a.

Defn: Bounded by the sea.

SEA BOW Sea" bow`.

Defn: See Marine rainbow, under Rainbow.

SEA BOY Sea" boy`.

Defn: A boy employed on shipboard.

SEA BREACH Sea" breach`.

Defn: A breaking or overflow of a bank or a dike by the sea. L'Estrange.

SEA BREAM Sea" bream`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of sparoid fishes, especially the common European species (Pagellus centrodontus), the Spanish (P. Oweni), and the black sea bream (Cantharus lineatus); — called also old wife.

SEA BRIEF Sea" brief`.

Defn: Same as Sea letter.

SEA BUG Sea" bug`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chiton.

SEA-BUILT Sea"-built`, a.

Defn: Built at, in, or by the sea.

SEA BUTTERFLY Sea" but"ter*fly`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pteropod.

SEA CABBAGE Sea" cab"bage (; 48). (Bot.)

Defn: See Sea kale, under Kale.

SEA CALF Sea" calf`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common seal.

SEA CANARY Sea" ca*na"ry. Etym: [So called from a whistling sound which it makes.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The beluga, or white whale.

SEA CAPTAIN Sea" cap"tain.

Defn: The captain of a vessel that sails upon the sea.

SEA CARD Sea" card`.

Defn: Mariner's card, or compass.

SEA CATFISH; SEA CAT Sea" cat`fish. Sea" cat`. (Zoöl.) (a) The wolf fish. (b) Any marine siluroid fish, as Ælurichthys marinus, and Arinus felis, of the eastern coast of the United States. Many species are found on the coasts of Central and South America.

SEA CHART Sea" chart`.

Defn: A chart or map on which the lines of the shore, islands, shoals, harbors, etc., are delineated.

SEA CHICKWEED Sea" chick"weed`. (Bot.)

Defn: A fleshy plant (Arenaria peploides) growing in large tufts in the sands of the northern Atlantic seacoast; — called also sea sandwort, and sea purslane.

SEA CLAM Sea" clam`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of the large bivalve mollusks found on the open seacoast, especially those of the family Mactridæ, as the common American species. (Mactra, or Spisula, solidissima); — called also beach clam, and surf clam.

SEA COAL Sea" coal`.

Defn: Coal brought by sea; — a name by which mineral coal was formerly designated in the south of England, in distinction from charcoal, which was brought by land. Sea-coal facing (Founding), facing consisting of pulverized bituminous coal.

SEACOAST Sea"coast`, n.

Defn: The shore or border of the land adjacent to the sea or ocean. Also used adjectively.

SEA COB Sea" cob`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black-backed gull.

SEA COCK Sea" cock`.

1. In a steamship, a cock or valve close to the vessel's side, for closing a pipe which communicates with the sea.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The black-bellied plover. (b) A gurnard, as the European red gurnard (Trigla pini).

SEA COCOA Sea" co"coa. (Bot.)

Defn: A magnificent palm (Lodoicea Sechellarum) found only in the Seychelles Islands. The fruit is an immense two-lobed nut. It was found floating in the Indian Ocean before the tree was known, and called sea cocoanut, and double cocoanut.

SEA COLANDER Sea" col"an*der. (Bot.)

Defn: A large blackfish seaweed (Agarum Turneri), the frond of which is punctured with many little holes.

SEA COLEWORT Sea" cole"wort`. (Bot.)

Defn: Sea cabbage.

SEA COMPASS Sea" com"pass.

Defn: The mariner's compass. See under Compass.

SEA COOT Sea" coot`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A scoter duck.

SEA CORN Sea" corn`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A yellow cylindrical mass of egg capsule of certain species of whelks (Buccinum), which resembles an ear of maize.

SEA COW Sea" cow`. (Zoöl.) (a) The mantee. (b) The dugong. (c) The walrus.

SEA CRAWFISH; SEA CRAYFISH Sea" craw"fish`. Sea" cray"fish`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any crustacean of the genus Palinurus and allied genera, as the European spiny lobster (P. vulgaris), which is much used as an article of food. See Lobster.

SEA CROW Sea" crow`. (Zoöl.) (a) The chough. [Ireland] (b) The cormorant. (c) The blackheaded pewit, and other gulls. (d) The skua. (e) The razorbill. [Orkney Islands] (f) The coot.

SEA CUCUMBER Sea" cu"cum*ber. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large holothurian, especially one of those belonging to the genus Pentacta, or Cucumaria, as the common American and European species. (P. frondosa).

SEA DACE Sea" dace`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European sea perch.

SEA DAFFODIL Sea" daf"fo*dil. (Bot.)

Defn: A European amarylidaceous plant (Pancratium maritimum).

SEA DEVIL Sea" dev`il (Zoöl.) (a) Any very large ray, especially any species of the genus Manta or Cepholoptera, some of which become more than twenty feet across and weigh several tons. See also Ox ray, under Ox. (b) Any large cephalopod, as a large Octopus, or a giant squid (Architeuthis). See Devilfish. (c) The angler.

SEA DOG Sea" dog`.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dogfish. (b) The common seal.

2. An old sailor; a salt. [Colloq.]

SEA DOTTEREL Sea" dot"ter*el. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The turnstone.

SEA DOVE Sea" dove`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The little auk, or rotche. See Illust. of Rotche.

SEA DRAGON Sea" drag"on. (Zoöl.) (a) A dragonet, or sculpin. (b) The pegasus.

SEA DRAKE Sea" drake`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pewit gull.

SEA DUCK Sea" duck`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of ducks which frequent the seacoasts and feed mainly on fishes and mollusks. The scoters, eiders, old squaw, and ruddy duck are examples. They may be distinguished by the lobate hind toe.

SEA EAGLE Sea" ea"gle.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of fish-eating eagles of the genus Haliæetus and allied genera, as the North Pacific sea eagle. (H. pelagicus), which has white shoulders, head, rump, and tail; the European white-tailed eagle (H. albicilla); and the Indian white- tailed sea eagle, or fishing eagle (Polioaëtus ichthyaëtus). The bald eagle and the osprey are also sometimes classed as sea eagles.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The eagle ray. See under Ray.

SEA-EAR Sea"-ear`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of ear-shaped shells of the genus Haliotis. See Abalone.

SEA EEL Sea" eel`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The conger eel.

SEA EGG Sea" egg`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea urchin.

SEA ELEPHANT Sea" el"e*phant. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very large seal (Macrorhinus proboscideus) of the Antarctic seas, much hunted for its oil. It sometimes attains a length of thirty feet, and is remarkable for the prolongation of the nose of the adult male into an erectile elastic proboscis, about a foot in length. Another species of smaller size (M. angustirostris) occurs on the coast of Lower California, but is now nearly extinct.

SEA FAN Sea" fan". (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gorgonian which branches in a fanlike form, especially Gorgonia flabellum of Florida and the West Indies.

SEAFARER Sea"far`er, n. Etym: [Sea + fare.]

Defn: One who follows the sea as a business; a mariner; a sailor.

SEAFARING Sea"far`ing, a.

Defn: Following the business of a mariner; as, a seafaring man.

SEA FEATHER Sea" feath"er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gorgonian which branches in a plumelike form.

SEA FENNEL Sea" fen"nel. (Bot.)

Defn: Samphire.

SEA FERN Sea" fern". (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gorgonian which branches like a fern.

SEA FIGHT Sea" fight`.

Defn: An engagement between ships at sea; a naval battle.

SEA FIR Sea" fir`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sertularian hydroid, especially Sertularia abietina, which branches like a miniature fir tree.

SEA FLOWER Sea" flow"er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea anemone, or any related anthozoan.

SEA FOAM Sea" foam`.

1. Foam of sea water.

2. (Min.)

Defn: Meerschaum; — called also sea froth.

SEA FOWL Sea" fowl`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bird which habitually frequents the sea, as an auk, gannet, gull, tern, or petrel; also, all such birds, collectively.

SEA FOX Sea" fox`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The thrasher shark. See Thrasher.

SEA FROTH Sea" froth`.

Defn: See Sea foam, 2.

SEA-GATE; SEA-GAIT Sea"-gate`, Sea"-gait`, n.

Defn: A long, rolling swell of the sea. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

SEA GAUGE Sea" gauge`.

Defn: See under Gauge, n.

SEA GHERKIN; SEA GIRKIN Sea" gher`kin, or; Sea" gir"kin. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small holothurian resembling in form a gherkin.

SEA GINGER Sea" gin"ger. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hydroid coral of the genus Millepora, especially M. alcicornis, of the West Indies and Florida. So called because it stings the tongue like ginger. See Illust. under Millepore.

SEA GIRDLES Sea" gir"dles. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of kelp (Laminaria digitata) with palmately cleft fronds; — called also sea wand, seaware, and tangle.

SEAGIRT Sea"girt`, a.

Defn: Surrounded by the water of the sea or ocean; as, a seagirt isle. Milton.

SEA GOD Sea" god`.

Defn: A marine deity; a fabulous being supposed to live in, or have dominion over, the sea, or some particular sea or part of the sea, as Neptune.

SEA GODDESS Sea" god"dess.

Defn: A goddess supposed to live in or reign over the sea, or some part of the sea.

SEAGOING Sea"go`ing, a.

Defn: Going upon the sea; especially, sailing upon the deep sea; — used in distinction from coasting or river, as applied to vessels.

SEA GOOSE Sea" goose`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A phalarope.

SEA GOWN Sea" gown`.

Defn: A gown or frock with short sleeves, formerly worn by mariners. Shak.

SEA GRAPE Sea" grape`.

1. (Bot.) (a) The gulf weed. See under Gulf. (b) A shrubby plant (Coccoloba uvifera) growing on the sandy shores of tropical America, somewhat resembling the grapevine.

2. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The clusters of gelatinous egg capsules of a squid (Loligo).

SEA GRASS Sea" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: Eelgrass.

SEA GREEN Sea" green`.

Defn: The green color of sea water.

SEA-GREEN Sea"-green`, a.

Defn: Of a beautiful bluish green color, like sea water on soundings.

SEA GUDGEON Sea" gud"geon. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European black goby (Gobius niger).

SEA GULL Sea" gull`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gull living on the seacoast.

SEAH Se"ah, n.

Defn: A Jewish dry measure containing one third of an an ephah.

SEA HARE Sea" hare`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any tectibranchiate mollusk of the genus Aplysia. See Aplysia.

SEA HAWK Sea" hawk`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A jager gull.

SEA HEATH Sea" heath`. (Bot.)

Defn: A low perennial plant (Frankenia lævis) resembling heath, growing along the seashore in Europe.

SEA HEDGEHOG Sea" hedge"hog`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea urchin.

SEA HEN Sea" hen`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the common guillemot; — applied also to various other sea birds.

SEA HOG Sea" hog`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The porpoise.

SEA HOLLY Sea" hol"ly. (Bot.)

Defn: An evergeen seashore plant (Eryngium maritimum). See Eryngium.

SEA HOLM Sea" holm`.

Defn: A small uninhabited island.

SEA HOLM Sea" holm`. (Bot.)

Defn: Sea holly.

SEA HORSE Sea" horse`.

1. A fabulous creature, half horse and half fish, represented in classic mythology as driven by sea dogs or ridden by the Nereids. It is also depicted in heraldry. See Hippocampus.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The walrus. (b) Any fish of the genus Hippocampus.

Note: In a passage of Dryden's, the word is supposed to refer to the hippopotamus.

SEA HULVER Sea" hul"ver. (Bot.)

Defn: Sea holly.

SEA-ISLAND Sea"-is`land, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to certain islands along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia; as, sea-island cotton, a superior cotton of long fiber produced on those islands.

SEA JELLY Sea" jel"ly. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A medusa, or jellyfish.

SEAK Seak, n.

Defn: Soap prepared for use in milling cloth.

SEA KALE Sea" kale". (Bot.)

Defn: See under Kale.

SEA KING Sea" king`.

Defn: One of the leaders among the Norsemen who passed their lives in roving the seas in search of plunder and adventures; a Norse pirate chief. See the Note under Viking.

SEAL Seal, n. Etym: [OE. sele, AS. seolh; akin to OHG. selah, Dan. sæl, Sw. själ, Icel. selr.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocidæ and Otariidæ.

Note: Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing such popular names as sea lion, sea leopard, sea bear, or ursine seal, fur seal, and sea elephant. The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), the hooded seal (Cystophora crustata), and the ringed seal (Phoca foetida), are northern species. See also Eared seal, Harp seal, and Fur seal, under Eared, Harp, Monk, and Fur. Seals are much hunted for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant. Harbor seal (Zoöl.), the common seal (Phoca vitulina). It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean, and often ascends rivers; — called also marbled seal, native seal, river seal, bay seal, land seal, sea calf, sea cat, sea dog, dotard, ranger, selchie, tangfish.

SEAL Seal, n. Etym: [OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign, figure, or image. See Sign, n., and cf. Sigil.]

1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security.

2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to give a deed under hand and seal. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend;st thy lungs to speak so loud. Shak.

3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it.

4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. "under the seal of silence." Milton. Like a red seal is the setting sun On the good and the evil men have done. Lonfellow.

5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap. Great seal. See under Great. — Privy seal. See under Privy, a. — Seal lock, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal in such a way that the lock can not be opened without rupturing the seal. Seal manual. See under Manual, a. — Seal ring, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring. Shak.

SEAL Seal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skaling.] Etym: [OE. selen; cf. OF. seeler, seieler, F. sceller, LL. sigillare. See Seal a stamp.]

1. To set or affix a seal to; hence, to authenticate; to confirm; to ratify; to establish; as, to seal a deed. And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Shak.

2. To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to seal weights and measures; to seal silverware.

3. To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, wax, or other substance causing adhesion; as, to seal a letter.

4. Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep secure or secret. Seal up your lips, and give no words but "mum". Shak.

5. To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or the like. Gwilt.

6. To close by means of a seal; as, to seal a drainpipe with water. See 2d Seal, 5.

7. Among the Mormons, to confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife. [Utah, U.S.] If a man once married desires a second helpmate . . . she is sealed to him under the solemn sanction of the church. H. Stansbury.

SEAL Seal, v. i.

Defn: To affix one's seal, or a seal. [Obs.] I will seal unto this bond. Shak.

SEA LACES Sea" la"ces. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of seaweed (Chorda Filum) having blackish cordlike fronds, often many feet long.

SEA LAMPREY Sea" lam"prey. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common lamprey.

SEA LANGUAGE Sea" lan"guage.

Defn: The peculiar language or phraseology of seamen; sailor's cant.

SEA LARK Sea" lark`. (Zoöl.) (a) The rock pipit (Anthus obscurus). (b) Any one of several small sandpipers and plovers, as the ringed plover, the turnstone, the dunlin, and the sanderling.

SEA LAVENDER Sea" lav"en*der. (Bot.)

Defn: See Marsh rosemary, under Marsh.

SEA LAWYER Sea" law"yer. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gray snapper. See under Snapper.

SEAL-BROWN Seal"-brown`, a.

Defn: Of a rich dark brown color, like the fur of the fur seal after it is dyed.

SEA LEGS Sea" legs`.

Defn: Legs able to maintain their possessor upright in stormy weather at sea, that is, ability stand or walk steadily on deck when a vessel is rolling or pitching in a rough sea. [Sailor's Cant] Totten.

SEA LEMON Sea" lem"on. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of nudibranchiate mollusks of the genus Doris and allied genera, having a smooth, thick, convex yellow body.

SEA LEOPARD Sea" leop"ard. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of spotted seals, especially Ogmorhinus leptonyx, and Leptonychotes Weddelli, of the Antarctic Ocean. The North Pacific sea leopard is the harbor seal.

SEALER Seal"er, n.

Defn: One who seals; especially, an officer whose duty it is to seal writs or instruments, to stamp weights and measures, or the like.

SEALER Sealer, n.

Defn: A mariner or a vessel engaged in the business of capturing seals.

SEA LETTER Sea" let"ter. (Mar. Law.)

Defn: The customary certificate of national character which neutral merchant vessels are bound to carry in time of war; a passport for a vessel and cargo.

SEA LETTUCE Sea" let"tuce. (Bot.)

Defn: The green papery fronds of several seaweeds of the genus Ulva, sometimes used as food.

SEA LEVEL Sea" lev"el.

Defn: The level of the surface of the sea; any surface on the same level with the sea.

SEALGH; SELCH Sealgh, Selch, n.. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A seal. [Scotch]

SEA LILY Sea" lil"y. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A crinoid.

SEALING WAX Seal"ing wax`.

Defn: A compound of the resinous materials, pigments, etc., used as a material for seals, as for letters, documents, etc.

SEA LION Sea" li"on. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several large species of seals of the family Otariidæ native of the Pacific Ocean, especially the southern sea lion (Otaria jubata) of the South American coast; the northern sea lion (Eumetopias Stelleri) found from California to Japan; and the black, or California, sea lion (Zalophus Californianus), which is common on the rocks near San Francisco.

SEA LOACH Sea" loach". (Zoöl.)

Defn: The three-bearded rockling. See Rockling.

SEA LOUSE Sea" louse`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of isopod crustaceans of Cymothoa, Livoneca, and allied genera, mostly parasites on fishes.

SEALSKIN Seal"skin`, n.

Defn: The skin of a seal; the pelt of a seal prepared for use, esp. of the fur seal; also, a garment made of this material.

SEAM Seam, n. Etym: [See Saim.]

Defn: Grease; tallow; lard. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] Shak. Dryden.

SEAM Seam, n. Etym: [OE. seem, seam, AS. seám; akin to D. zoom, OHG. soum, G. saum, LG. soom, Icel. saumr, Sw. & Dan. söm, and E. sew. sq. root 156. See Sew to fasten with thread.]

1. The fold or line formed by sewing together two pieces of cloth or leather.

2. Hence, a line of junction; a joint; a suture, as on a ship, a floor, or other structure; the line of union, or joint, of two boards, planks, metal plates, etc. Precepts should be so finely wrought together . . . that no coarse seam may discover where they join. Addison.

3. (geol. & Mining)

Defn: A thin layer or stratum; a narrow vein between two thicker strata; as, a seam of coal.

4. A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix. Seam blast, a blast by putting the powder into seams or cracks of rocks. — Seam lace, a lace used by carriage makers to cover seams and edges; — called also seaming lace. — Seam presser. (Agric.) (a) A heavy roller to press down newly plowed furrows. (b) A tailor's sadiron for pressing seams. Knight. — Seam set, a set for flattering the seams of metal sheets, leather work, etc.

SEAM Seam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Seaming.]

1. To form a seam upon or of; to join by sewing together; to unite.

2. To mark with something resembling a seam; to line; to scar. Seamed o'Pope.

3. To make the appearance of a seam in, as in knitting a stocking; hence, to knit with a certain stitch, like that in such knitting.

SEAM Seam, v. i.

Defn: To become ridgy; to crack open. Later their lips began to parch and seam. L. Wallace.

SEAM Seam, n. Etym: [AS. seám, LL. sauma, L. sagma a packsaddle, fr. Gr. Sumpter.]

Defn: A denomination of weight or measure. Specifically: (a) The quantity of eight bushels of grain. "A seam of oats." P. Plowman. (b) The quantity of 120 pounds of glass. [Eng.]

SEA-MAID Sea"-maid`, n.

1. The mermaid.

2. A sea nymph.

SEA-MAIL Sea"-mail`, n. Etym: [Sea + (perhaps) Mall Mally, for Mary; hence, Prov. E. mally a hare.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gull; the mew.

SEAMAN Sea"man, n.; pl. Seamen (.

Defn: A merman; the male of the mermaid. [R.] "Not to mention mermaids or seamen." Locke.

SEAMAN Sea"man, n.; pl. Seamen. Etym: [AS. sæman.]

Defn: One whose occupation is to assist in the management of ships at sea; a mariner; a sailor; — applied both to officers and common mariners, but especially to the latter. Opposed to landman, or landsman. Able seaman, a sailor who is practically conversant with all the duties of common seamanship. — ordinary seaman. See Ordinary.

SEAMANLIKE Sea"man*like`, a.

Defn: Having or showing the skill of a practical seaman.

SEAMANSHIP Sea"man*ship, n.

Defn: The skill of a good seaman; the art, or skill in the art, of working a ship.

SEA MANTIS Sea" man"tis. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A squilla.

SEA MARGE Sea" marge`.

Defn: Land which borders on the sea; the seashore. Shak. You are near the sea marge of a land teeming with life. J. Burroughs.

SEAMARK Sea"mark`, n.

Defn: Any elevated object on land which serves as a guide to mariners; a beacon; a landmark visible from the sea, as a hill, a tree, a steeple, or the like. Shak.

SEA MAT Sea" mat`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bryozoan of the genus Flustra or allied genera which form frondlike corals.

SEA MAW Sea" maw`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The sea mew.

SEAMED Seamed, a. (Falconry)

Defn: Out of condition; not in good condition; — said of a hawk.

SEA-MELL Sea"-mell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The sea mew.

SEA MEW Sea" mew`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gull; the mew.

SEA MILE Sea" mile`.

Defn: A geographical mile. See Mile.

SEA MILKWORT Sea" milk"wort`. (Bot.)

Defn: A low, fleshy perennial herb (Glaux maritima) found along northern seashores.

SEAMING Seam"ing, n.

1. The act or process of forming a seam or joint.

2. (Fishing)

Defn: The cord or rope at the margin of a seine, to which the meshes of the net are attached. Seaming machine, a machine for uniting the edges of sheet-metal plates by bending them and pinching them together.

SEAMLESS Seam"less, a.

Defn: Without a seam. Christ's seamless coat, all of a piece. Jer. Taylor.

SEA MONK Sea" monk`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Monk seal, under Monk.

SEA MONSTER Sea" mon"ster. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large sea animal.

SEA MOSS Sea" moss`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any branched marine bryozoan resembling moss.

SEA MOUSE Sea" mouse`. (Zoöl.) (a) A dorsibranchiate annelid, belonging to Aphrodite and allied genera, having long, slender, hairlike setæ on the sides. (b) The dunlin.

SEAMSTER Seam"ster, n. Etym: [See Seamstress.]

Defn: One who sews well, or whose occupation is to sew. [Obs.]

SEAMSTRESS Seam"stress, n. Etym: [From older seamster, properly fem., AS. seámestre. See Seam.]

Defn: A woman whose occupation is sewing; a needlewoman.

SEAMSTRESSY Seam"stress*y, n.

Defn: The business of a seamstress.

SEA MUD Sea" mud`.

Defn: A rich slimy deposit in salt marshes and along the seashore, sometimes used as a manure; — called also sea ooze.

SEAMY Seam"y, a.

Defn: Having a seam; containing seams, or showing them. "Many a seamy scar." Burns. Everything has its fair, as well as its seamy, side. Sir W. Scott.

SEAN Sean, n.

Defn: A seine. See Seine. [Prov. Eng.]

SEANCE Sé`ance", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. sedens, -entis, p.pr. of sedere to sit. See Sit.]

Defn: A session, as of some public body; especially, a meeting of spiritualists to receive spirit communication, so called.

SEA NEEDLE Sea" nee"dle. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Garfish (a).

SEA NETTLE Sea" net`tle.

Defn: A jellyfish, or medusa.

SEANNACHIE Sean"na*chie, n. Etym: [Gael. seanachaidh.]

Defn: A bard among the Highlanders of Scotland, who preserved and repeated the traditions of the tribes; also, a genealogist. [Written also senachy.] [Scot.]

SEA ONION Sea" on"ion. (Bot.)

Defn: The officinal squill. See Squill.

SEA OOZE Sea" ooze`.

Defn: Same as Sea mud. Mortimer.

SEA ORANGE Sea" or"ange. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large American holothurian (Lophothuria Fabricii) having a bright orange convex body covered with finely granulated scales. Its expanded tentacles are bright red.

SEA-ORB Sea"-orb`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A globefish.

SEA OTTER Sea" ot"ter. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An aquatic carnivore (Enhydris lutris, or marina) found in the North Pacific Ocean. Its fur is highly valued, especially by the Chinese. It is allied to the common otter, but is larger, with feet more decidedly webbed. Sea-otter's cabbage (Bot.), a gigantic kelp of the Pacific Ocean (Nereocystis Lutkeana). See Nereocystis.

SEA OWL Sea" owl`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lumpfish.

SEA PAD Sea" pad`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The puffin.

SEA PARROT Sea" par"rot (se" par"rut). (Zoöl.)

Defn: The puffin.

SEA PARTRIDGE Sea" par"tridge. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gilthead (Crenilabrus melops), a fish of the British coasts.

SEA PASS Sea" pass`.

Defn: A document carried by neutral merchant vessels in time of war, to show their nationality; a sea letter or passport. See Passport.

SEA PEACH Sea" peach`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A beautiful American ascidian (Cynthia, or Halocynthia, pyriformis) having the size, form, velvety surface, and color of a ripe peach.

SEA PEAR Sea" pear`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pedunculated ascidian of the genus Boltonia.

SEA-PEN Sea"-pen", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pennatula.

SEA PERCH Sea" perch`. (Zoöl.) (a) The European bass (Roccus, or Labrax, lupus); — called also sea dace. (b) The cunner. (c) The sea bass. (d) The name is applied also to other species of fishes.

SEA PHEASANT Sea" pheas"ant. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pintail duck.

SEA PIE Sea" pie. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The oyster catcher, a limicoline bird of the genus Hæmatopus.

SEA PIE Sea" pie`.

Defn: A dish of crust or pastry and meat or fish, etc., cooked together in alternate layers, — a common food of sailors; as, a three-decker sea pie.

SEAPIECE Sea"piece`, n.

Defn: A picture representing a scene at sea; a marine picture. Addison.

SEA PIET Sea" pi"et. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 1st Sea pie.

SEA PIG Sea" pig`. (Zoöl.) (a) A porpoise or dolphin. (b) A dugong.

SEA PIGEON Sea" pi"geon.

Defn: The common guillemot.

SEA PIKE Sea" pike`. (Zoöl.) (a) The garfish. (b) A large serranoid food fish (Centropomus undecimalis) found on both coasts of America; — called also robalo. (c) The merluce.

SEA PINCUSHION Sea" pin`cush`ion. (Zoöl.) (a) A sea purse. (b) A pentagonal starfish.

SEA PINK Sea" pink`. (Bot.)

Defn: See Thrift.

SEA PLOVER Sea" plov"er.

Defn: the black-bellied plover.

SEA POACHER; SEA POKER Sea" poach"er. Sea" pok"er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lyrie.

SEA POOL Sea" pool`.

Defn: A pool of salt water. Spenser.

SEA POPPY Sea" pop"py. (Bot.)

Defn: The horn poppy. See under Horn.

SEA PORCUPINE Sea" por"cu*pine. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fish of the genus Diodon, and allied genera, whose body is covered with spines. See Illust. under Diodon.

SEA PORK Sea" pork`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American compound ascidian (Amoræcium stellatum) which forms large whitish masses resembling salt pork.

SEA PORT Sea" port`, n.

Defn: A port on the seashore, or one accessible for seagoing vessels. Also used adjectively; as, a seaport town.

SEAPOY Sea"poy, n.

Defn: See Sepoy.

SEA PUDDING Sea" pud"ding. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large holothurian. [Prov. Eng.]

SEA PURSE Sea" purse`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The horny egg case of a skate, and of certain sharks.

SEA PURSLANE Sea" purs"lane. (Bot.)

Defn: See under Purslane.

SEA PYE Sea" pye`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 1st Sea pie.

SEA PYOT Sea" py"ot. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 1st Sea pie.

SEA QUAIL Sea" quail`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The turnstone.

SEAQUAKE Sea"quake`, n.

Defn: A quaking of the sea.

SEAR; SERE Sear, Sere, a.

Defn: [OE. seer, AS. seár (assumed) fr. seárian to wither; akin to D. zoor dry, LG. soor, OHG. soren to to wither, Gr. sush) to dry, to wither, Zend hush to dry. sq. root152. Cf. Austere, Sorrel, a.] Dry; withered; no longer green; — applied to leaves. Milton. I have lived long enough; my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf. Shak.

SEAR Sear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seared; p. pr. & vb. n. Searing.] Etym: [OE.seeren, AS. seárian. See Sear, a.]

1. To wither; to dry up. Shak.

2. To burn (the surface of) to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat such as changes the color or the hardness and texture of the surface; to scorch; to make callous; as, to sear the skin or flesh. Also used figuratively. I'm seared with burning steel. Rowe. It was in vain that the amiable divine tried to give salutary pain to that seared conscience. Macaulay. The discipline of war, being a discipline in destruction of life, is a discipline in callousness. Whatever sympathies exist are seared. H. Spencer.

Note: Sear is allied to scorch in signification; but it is applied primarily to animal flesh, and has special reference to the effect of heat in marking the surface hard. Scorch is applied to flesh, cloth, or any other substance, and has no reference to the effect of hardness. To sear, to close by searing. "Cherish veins of good humor, and sear up those of ill." Sir W. Temple.

SEAR Sear, n. Etym: [F. serre a grasp, pressing, fr. L. sera. See Serry.]

Defn: The catch in a gunlock by which the hammer is held cocked or half cocked. Sear spring, the spring which causes the sear to catch in the notches by which the hammer is held.

SEA RAT Sea" rat`.

1. A pirate. [R.] Massinger.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The chimæra.

SEA RAVEN Sea" ra"ven. (Zoöl.) (a) An American cottoid fish (Hemitripterus Americanus) allied to the sculpins, found on the northeren Atlantic coasts. (b) The cormorant.

SEARCE Searce, n. Etym: [See Sarse.]

Defn: A fine sieve. [Obs.]

SEARCE Searce, v. t.

Defn: To sift; to bolt. [Obs.] Mortimer.

SEARCER Sear"cer, n.

1. One who sifts or bolts. [Obs.]

2. A searce, or sieve. [Obs.] Holland.

SEARCH Search, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Searched; p. pr. & vb. n. Searching.] Etym: [OE. serchen, cerchen, OF. cerchier, F. chercher, L. circare to go about, fr. L. circum, circa, around. See Circle.]

1. To look over or through, for the purpose of finding something; to examine; to explore; as, to search the city. "Search the Scriptures." John v. 39. They are come to search the house. Shak. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Ps. cxxxix. 23.

2. To inquire after; to look for; to seek. I will both search my sheep, and seek them out. Ezek. xxxiv. 11. Enough is left besides to search and know. Milton.

3. To examine or explore by feeling with an instrument; to probe; as, to search a wound.

4. To examine; to try; to put to the test. To search out, to seek till found; to find by seeking; as, to search out truth.

Syn. — To explore; examine; scrutinize; seek; investigate; pry into; inquire.

SEARCH Search, v. i.

Defn: To seek; to look for something; to make inquiry, exploration, or examination; to hunt. Once more search with me. Shak. It sufficeth that they have once with care sifted the matter, and searched into all the particulars. Locke.

SEARCH Search, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. cerche. See Search, v. t.]

Defn: The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry; pursuit for finding something; examination. Thus the orb he roamed With narrow search, and with inspection deep Considered every creature. Milton. Nor did my search of liberty begin Till my black hairs were changed upon my chin. Dryden. Right of search (Mar. Law), the right of the lawfully commissioned cruisers of belligerent nations to examine and search private merchant vessels on the high seas, for the enemy's property or for articles contraband of war. — Search warrant (Law), a warrant legally issued, authorizing an examination or search of a house, or other place, for goods stolen, secreted, or concealed.

Syn. — Scrutiny; examination; exploration; investigation; research; inquiry; quest; pursuit.

SEARCHABLE Search"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being searched.

SEARCHABLENESS Search"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being searchable.

SEARCHER Search"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. cercheor inspector.]

Defn: One who, or that which, searhes or examines; a seeker; an inquirer; an examiner; a trier. Specifically: (a) Formerly, an officer in London appointed to examine the bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death. Graunt. (b) An officer of the customs whose business it is to search ships, merchandise, luggage, etc. (c) An inspector of leather. [Prov. Eng.] (d) (Gun.) An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon, to detect cavities. (e) An implement for sampling butter; a butter trier. (j) (Med.) An instrument for feeling after calculi in the bladder, etc.

SEARCHING Search"ing, a.

Defn: Exploring thoroughly; scrutinizing; penetrating; trying; as, a searching discourse; a searching eye. "Piercing, searching, biting, cold." Dickens. — Search"ing*ly, adv. — Search"ing*ness, n.

SEARCHLESS Search"less, a.

Defn: Impossible to be searched; inscrutable; impenetrable.

SEARCHLIGHT Search"light`, n. (a) An apparatus for projecting a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays, usually devised so that it can be swiveled about. (b) The beam of light projecting by this apparatus.

SEARCLOTH Sear"cloth`, n.

Defn: Cerecloth. Mortimer.

SEARCLOTH Sear"cloth, v. t.

Defn: To cover, as a sore, with cerecloth.

SEARED Seared, a.

Defn: Scorched; cauterized; hence, figuratively, insensible; not susceptible to moral influences. A seared conscience and a remorseless heart. Macaulay.

SEAREDNESS Sear"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being seared or callous; insensibility. Bp. Hall.

SEA REED Sea" reed`. (Bot.)

Defn: The sea-sand reed. See under Reed.

SEA RISK Sea" risk.

Defn: Risk of injury, destruction, or loss by the sea, or while at sea.

SEA ROBBER Sea" rob"ber.

Defn: A pirate; a sea rover.

SEA ROBIN Sea" rob"in.

Defn: See under Robin, and Illustration in Appendix.

SEA ROCKET Sea" rock"et.(Bot.)

Defn: See under Rocket.

SEA ROOM Sea" room`. (Naut.)

Defn: Room or space at sea for a vessel to maneuver, drive, or scud, without peril of running ashore or aground. Totten.

SEA ROVER Sea" rov"er.

Defn: One that cruises or roves the sea for plunder; a sea robber; a pirate; also, a piratical vessel.

SEA-ROVING Sea"-rov"ing

Defn: , a. Cruising at random on the ocean.

SEA SALMON Sea" salm"on. (Zoöl.) (a) A young pollock. (b) The spotted squeteague. (c) See Sea bass (b).

SEA SALT Sea" salt`.

Defn: Common salt, obtained from sea water by evaporation.

SEA SANDPIPER Sea" sand"pi`per. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The purple sandpiper.

SEA SANDWORT Sea" sand"wort`. (Bot.)

Defn: See Sea chickweed.

SEA SAURIAN Sea" sau"ri*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any marine saurian; esp. (Paleon.) the large extinct species of Mosasaurus, Icthyosaurus, Plesiosaurus, and related genera.

SEASCAPE Sea"scape, n. Etym: [Cf. Landscape.]

Defn: A picture representing a scene at sea. [Jocose] Thackeray.

SEA SCORPION Sea" scor"pi*on. (Zoöl.) (a) A European sculpin (Cottus scorpius) having the head armed with short spines. (b) The scorpene.

SEA SCURF Sea" scurf`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bryozoan which forms rounded or irregular patches of coral on stones, seaweeds, etc.

SEA SERPENT Sea" ser`pent.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any marine snake. See Sea snake.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large marine animal of unknown nature, often reported to have been seen at sea, but never yet captured.

Note: Many accounts of sea serpents are imaginary or fictitious; others are greatly exaggerated and distorted by incompetent observers; but a number have been given by competent and trustworthy persons, which indicate that several diverse animals have been called sea serpents. Among these are, apparently, several large snakelike fishes, as the oar fish, or ribbon fish (Regalecus), and huge conger eels. Other accounts probably refer to the giant squids (Architeuthis). Some of the best accounts seem to describe a marine saurian, like the fossil Mosasauri, which were large serpentlike creatures with paddles.

SEASHELL Sea"shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The shell of any marine mollusk.

SEASHORE Sea"shore`, n.

1. The coast of the sea; the land that lies adjacent to the sea or ocean.

2. (Law)

Defn: All the ground between the ordinary highwater and low-water marks.

SEASICK Sea"sick`, a.

Defn: Affected with seasickness.

SEASICKNESS Sea"sick`ness, n.

Defn: The peculiar sickness, characterized by nausea and prostration, which is caused by the pitching or rolling of a vessel.

SEASIDE Sea"side`, n.

Defn: The land bordering on, or adjacent to, the sea; the seashore. Also used adjectively.

SEA SLATER Sea" slat"er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any isopod crustacean of the genus Ligia.

SEA SLUG Sea" slug`. (Zoöl.) (a) A holothurian. (b) A nudibranch mollusk.

SEA SNAIL Sea" snail`. (Zoöl.) (a) A small fish of the genus Liparis, having a ventral sucker. It lives among stones and seaweeds. (b) Any small creeping marine gastropod, as the species of Littorina, Natica, etc.

SEA SNAKE Sea" snake`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of many species of venomous aquatic snakes of the family Hydrophidæ, having a flattened tail and living entirely in the sea, especially in the warmer parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They feed upon fishes, and are mostly of moderate size, but some species become eight or ten feet long and four inches broad.

SEA SNIPE Sea" snipe`. (Zoöl.) (a) A sandpiper, as the knot and dunlin. (b) The bellows fish.

SEASON Sea"son, n. Etym: [OE. sesoun, F. saison, properly, the sowing time, fr. L. satio a sowing, a planting, fr. serere, satum, to sow, plant; akin to E. sow, v., to scatter, as seed.]

1. One of the divisions of the year, marked by alternations in the length of day and night, or by distinct conditions of temperature, moisture, etc., caused mainly by the relative position of the earth with respect to the sun. In the north temperate zone, four seasons, namely, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, are generally recognized. Some parts of the world have three seasons, — the dry, the rainy, and the cold; other parts have but two, — the dry and the rainy. The several seasons of the year in their beauty. Addison.

2. Hence, a period of time, especially as regards its fitness for anything contemplated or done; a suitable or convenient time; proper conjuncture; as, the season for planting; the season for rest. The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs. Milton.

3. A period of time not very long; a while; a time. Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. Acts xiii. 11.

4. That which gives relish; seasoning. [Obs.] You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Shak. In season, in good time, or sufficiently early for the purpose. — Out of season, beyond or out of the proper time of the usual or appointed time.

SEASON Sea"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seasoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Seasoning.]

1. To render suitable or appropriate; to prepare; to fit. He is fit and seasoned for his passage. Shak.

2. To fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to inure; to ripen; to mature; as, to season one to a climate.

3. Hence, to prepare by drying or hardening, or removal of natural juices; as, to season timber.

4. To fit for taste; to render palatable; to give zest or relish to; to spice; as, to season food.

5. Hence, to fit for enjoyment; to render agrecable. You season still with sports your serious hours. Dryden. The proper use of wit is to season conversation. Tillotson.

6. To qualify by admixture; to moderate; to temper. "When mercy seasons justice." Shak.

7. To imbue; to tinge or taint. "Who by his tutor being seasoned with the love of the truth." Fuller. Season their younger years with prudent and pious principles. Jer. Taylor.

8. To copulate with; to impregnate. [R.] Holland.

SEASON Sea"son, v. i.

1. To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate.

2. To become dry and hard, by the escape of the natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substance; as, timber seasons in the sun.

3. To give token; to savor. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

SEASONABLE Sea"son*a*ble, a.

Defn: Occurring in good time, in due season, or in proper time for the purpose; suitable to the season; opportune; timely; as, a seasonable supply of rain. Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction. Ecclus. xxxv. 20. — Sea"son*a*ble*ness, n. — Sea"son*a*bly, adv.

SEASONAGE Sea"son*age, n.

Defn: A seasoning. [Obs.] outh.

SEASONAL Sea"son*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the seasons. Seasonal dimorphism (Zoöl.), the condition of having two distinct varieties which appear at different seasons, as certain species of butterflies in which the spring brood differs from the summer or autumnal brood.

SEASONER Sea"son*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, seasons, or gives a relish; a seasoning.

SEASONING Sea"son*ing, n.

1. The act or process by which anything is seasoned.

2. That which is added to any species of food, to give it a higher relish, as salt, spices, etc.; a condiment.

3. Hence, something added to enhance enjoyment or relieve dullness; as, wit is the seasoning of conversation. Political speculations are of so dry and austere a nature, that they will not go down with the public without frequent seasonings. Addison. Seasoning tub (Bakery), a trough in which dough is set to rise. Knight.

SEASONLESS Sea"son*less, a.

Defn: Without succession of the seasons.

SEA SPIDER Sea" spi"der. (Zoöl.) (a) Any maioid crab; a spider crab. See Maioid, and Spider crab, under Spider. (b) Any pycnogonid.

SEA SQUIRT Sea" squirt`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An ascidian. See Illust. under Tunicata.

SEA STAR Sea" star`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A starfish, or brittle star.

SEA SURGEON Sea" sur"geon. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A surgeon fish.

SEA SWALLOW Sea" swal"low.

1. (Zoöl.) (a) The common tern. (b) The storm petrel. (c) The gannet.

2. (Her.)

Defn: See Cornish chough, under Chough.

SEAT Seat, n. Etym: [OE. sete, Icel. sæti; akin to Sw. säte, Dan. sæde, MHG. saze, AS. set, setl, and E. sit. sq. root154. See Sit, and cf. Settle, n.]

1. The place or thing upon which one sits; hence; anything made to be sat in or upon, as a chair, bench, stool, saddle, or the like. And Jesus . . . overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves. Matt. xxi. 12.

2. The place occupied by anything, or where any person or thing is situated, resides, or abides; a site; an abode, a station; a post; a situation. Where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is. Rev. ii. 13. He that builds a fair house upon an ill seat committeth himself to prison. Bacon. A seat of plenty, content, and tranquillity. Macaulay.

3. That part of a thing on which a person sits; as, the seat of a chair or saddle; the seat of a pair of pantaloons.

4. A sitting; a right to sit; regular or appropriate place of sitting; as, a seat in a church; a seat for the season in the opera house.

5. Posture, or way of sitting, on horseback. She had so good a seat and hand she might be trusted with any mount. G. Eliot.

6. (Mach.)

Defn: A part or surface on which another part or surface rests; as, a valve seat. Seat worm (Zoöl.), the pinworm.

SEAT Seat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seated; p. pr. & vb. n. Seating.]

1. To place on a seat; to cause to sit down; as, to seat one's self. The guests were no sooner seated but they entered into a warm debate. Arbuthnot.

2. To cause to occupy a post, site, situation, or the like; to station; to establish; to fix; to settle. Thus high . . . is King Richard seated. Shak. They had seated themselves in New Guiana. Sir W. Raleigh.

3. To assign a seat to, or the seats of; to give a sitting to; as, to seat a church, or persons in a church.

4. To fix; to set firm. From their foundations, loosening to and fro, They plucked the seated hills. Milton.

5. To settle; to plant with inhabitants; as to seat a country. [Obs.] W. Stith.

6. To put a seat or bottom in; as, to seat a chair.

SEAT Seat, v. i.

Defn: To rest; to lie down. [Obs.] Spenser.

SEA TANG Sea" tang`. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of seaweed; tang; tangle. To their nests of sedge and sea tang. Longfellow.

SEA TERM Sea" term`.

Defn: A term used specifically by seamen; a nautical word or phrase.

SEA THIEF Sea" thief`.

Defn: A pirate. Drayton.

SEA THONGS Sea" thongs`. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of blackish seaweed (Himanthalia lorea) found on the northern coasts of the Atlantic. It has a thonglike forking process rising from a top-shaped base.

SEATING Seat"ing, n.

1. The act of providong with a seat or seats; as, the seating of an audience.

2. The act of making seats; also, the material for making seats; as, cane seating.

SEA TITLING Sea" tit"ling. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The rock pipit.

SEATLESS Seat"less, a.

Defn: Having no seat.

SEA TOAD Sea" toad`. (Zoöl.) (a) A sculpin. (b) A toadfish. (c) The angler.

SEA TROUT Sea" trout`. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of true trouts which descend rivers and enter the sea after spawning, as the European bull trout and salmon trout, and the eastern American spotted trout. (b) The common squeteague, and the spotted squeteague. (c) A California fish of the family Chiridæ, especially Hexagrammus decagrammus; — called also spotted rock trout. See Rock trout, under Rock. (d) A California sciænoid fish (Cynoscion nobilis); — called also white sea bass.

SEA TRUMPET Sea" trum"pet.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A great blackish seaweed of the Southern Ocean, having a hollow and expanding stem and a pinnate frond, sometimes twenty feet long.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any large marine univalve shell of the genus Triton. See Triton.

SEA TURN Sea" turn`.

Defn: A breeze, gale, or mist from the sea. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

SEA TURTLE Sea" tur"tle. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several very large species of chelonians having the feet converted into paddles, as the green turtle, hawkbill, loggerhead, and leatherback. They inhabit all warm seas. (b) The sea pigeon, or guillemot.

SEA UNICORN Sea" u"ni*corn. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The narwhal.

SEA URCHIN Sea" ur"chin. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of echinoderms of the order Echinoidea.

Note: When living they are covered with movable spines which are often long and sharp.

SEAVE Seave, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. siv, Sw. säf, Icel. sef.]

Defn: A rush. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SEAVY Seav`y, a.

Defn: Overgrown with rushes. [Prov. Eng.]

SEA WALL Sea" wall`. Etym: [AS. sæweall.]

Defn: A wall, or embankment, to resist encroachments of the sea.

SEA-WALLED Sea"-walled`, a.

Defn: Surrounded, bounded, or protected by the sea, as if by a wall. Shak.

SEAWAN; SEAWANT Sea"wan, Sea"want, n.

Defn: The name used by the Algonquin Indians for the shell beads which passed among the Indians as money.

Note: Seawan was of two kinds; wampum, white, and suckanhock, black or purple, — the former having half the value of the latter. Many writers, however, use the terms seawan and wampum indiscriminately. Bartlett.

SEAWAND Sea"wand` . (Bot.)

Defn: See Sea girdles.

SEAWARD Sea"ward, a.

Defn: Directed or situated toward the sea. Donne. Two still clouds . . . sparkled on their seaward edges like a frosted fleece. G. W. Cable.

SEAWARD Sea"ward, adv.

Defn: Toward the sea. Drayton.

SEAWARE Sea"ware`, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. sæwar seaweed.] (Bot.)

Defn: Seaweed; esp., coarse seaweed. See Ware, and Sea girdles.

SEAWEED Sea"weed`, n.

1. Popularly, any plant or plants growing in the sea.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any marine plant of the class Algæ, as kelp, dulse, Fucus, Ulva, etc.

SEA WHIP Sea" whip`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gorgonian having a simple stem.

SEA WIDGEON Sea" wid"geon. (Zoöl.) (a) The scaup duck. (b) The pintail duck.

SEAWIFE Sea"wife`, n.; pl. Seawives (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European wrasse (Labrus vetula).

SEA WILLOW Sea" wil"low. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gorgonian coral with long flexible branches.

SEA WING Sea" wing`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A wing shell (Avicula).

SEA WITHWIND Sea" with"wind`.

Defn: (Bot.) A kind of bindweed (Convolvulus Soldanella) growing on the seacoast of Europe.

SEA WOLF Sea" wolf`. (Zoöl.) (a) The wolf fish. (b) The European sea perch. (c) The sea elephant. (d) A sea lion.

SEA WOODCOCK Sea" wood"cock`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bar-tailed godwit.

SEA WOOD LOUSE Sea" wood louse`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sea slater.

SEA WORMWOOD Sea" worm"wood`. (Bot.)

Defn: A European species of wormwood (Artemisia maritima) growing by the sea.

SEAWORTHINESS Sea"wor`thi*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being seaworthy, or able to resist the ordinary violence of wind and weather. Kent.

SEAWORTHY Sea"wor`thy, a.

Defn: Fit for a voyage; worthy of being trusted to transport a cargo with safety; as, a seaworthy ship.

SEA WRACK Sea" wrack`. (Bot.)

Defn: See Wrack.

SEBACEOUS Se*ba"ceous, a. Etym: [NL. sebaceus, from L. sebum tallow, grease.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or secreting, fat; composed of fat; having the appearance of fat; as, the sebaceous secretions of some plants, or the sebaceous humor of animals. Sebaceous cyst (Med.), a cyst formed by distention of a sebaceous gland, due to obstruction of its excretory duct. — Sebaceous glands (Anat.), small subcutaneous glands, usually connected with hair follicles. They secrete an oily semifluid matter, composed in great part of fat, which softens and lubricates the hair and skin.

SEBACIC Se*bac"ic, a. Etym: [L. sebum tallow: cf. F. sébacique.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to fat; derived from, or resembling, fat; specifically, designating an acid (formerly called also sebic, and pyroleic, acid), obtained by the distillation or saponification of certain oils (as castor oil) as a white crystalline substance.

SEBAT Se"bat, n. Etym: [Heb. shèbat.]

Defn: The eleventh month of the ancient Hebrew year, approximately corresponding with February. W. Smith (Bibl. Dict. ).

SEBATE Se"bate (se"b\ddt), n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of sebacic acid.

SEBESTEN Se*bes"ten, n. Etym: [Ar. sebestan the tree: cf. Sp. sebesten.] (Bot.)

Defn: The mucilaginous drupaceous fruit of two East Indian trees (Cordia Myxa, and C. latifolia), sometimes used medicinally in pectoral diseases.

Note: In the West Indies the name is given to the similar fruit of Cordia Sebestana.

SEBIC Se"bic, a.

Defn: See Sebacic. [Obs.]

SEBIFEROUS Se*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. sebum tallow + -ferous.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Producing vegetable tallow.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: Producing fat; sebaceous; as, the sebiferous, or sebaceous, glands.

SEBIPAROUS Se*bip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. sebum tallow + parere to bring forth.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Same as Sebiferous.

SEBORRHEA Seb"or*rhe*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. sebum tallow + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A morbidly increased discharge of sebaceous matter upon the skin; stearrhea.

SECALE Se*ca"le, n. Etym: [L., a kind of grain.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of cereal grasses including rye.

SECANCY Se"can*cy, n. Etym: [See Secant.]

Defn: A cutting; an intersection; as, the point of secancy of one line by another. [R.] Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ).

SECANT Se"cant, a. Etym: [L. secans, -antis, p.pr. of secare to cut. See Section.]

Defn: Cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.

SECANT Secant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sécante. See Secant, a.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a curve in two or more points.

2. (Trig.)

Defn: A right line drawn from the center of a circle through one end of a circular arc, and terminated by a tangent drawn from the other end; the number expressing the ratio line of this line to the radius of the circle. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.

SECCO Sec"co, a. Etym: [It.]

Defn: Dry. Secco painting, or Painting in secco, painting on dry plaster, as distinguished from fresco painting, which is on wet or fresh plaster.

SECEDE Se"cede", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Seceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Seceding.] Etym: [L. secedere, secessum; pref se- aside + cedere to go, move. See Cede.]

Defn: To withdraw from fellowship, communion, or association; to separate one's self by a solemn act; to draw off; to retire; especially, to withdraw from a political or religious body.

SECEDER Se*ced"er, n.

1. One who secedes.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a numerous body of Presbyterians in Scotland who seceded from the communion of the Established Church, about the year 1733, and formed the Secession Church, so called.

SECERN Se*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Secerning.] Etym: [L. secernere. See Secrete.]

1. To separate; to distinguish. Averroes secerns a sense of titillation, and a sense of hunger and thirst. Sir W. Hamilton.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: To secrete; as, mucus secerned in the nose. Arbuthnot.

SECERNENT Se*cern"ent, a. Etym: [L. secernens, p.pr.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Secreting; secretory.

SECERNENT Se*cern"ent, n.

1. That which promotes secretion.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: A vessel in, or by means of, which the process of secretion takes place; a secreting vessel.

SECERNMENT Se*cern"ment, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: The act or process of secreting.

SECESS Se*cess", n. Etym: [L. secessus. See Secede.]

Defn: Retirement; retreat; secession. [Obs.] R. H. More.

SECESSION Se*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. secessio: cf. F. sécession. See Secede.]

1. The act of seceding; separation from fellowship or association with others, as in a religious or political organization; withdrawal.

2. (U.S. Hist.)

Defn: The withdrawal of a State from the national Union. Secession Church (in Scotland). See Seceder.

SECESSIONISM Se*ces"sion*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine or policy of secession; the tenets of secession; the tenets of secessionists.

SECESSIONIST Se*ces"sion*ist, n.

1. One who upholds secession.

2. (U.S. Hist.)

Defn: One who holds to the belief that a State has the right to separate from the Union at its will.

SECHE Seche, v. t. & i.

Defn: To seek. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SECHIUM Se"chi*um, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. séchion; perhaps formed fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The edible fruit of a West Indian plant (Sechium edule) of the Gourd family. It is soft, pear-shaped, and about four inches long, and contains a single large seed. The root of the plant resembles a yam, and is used for food.