Crossword clues for scupper
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scupper \Scup"per\, n. [OF. escopir, escupir, to spit, perhaps for escospir, L. ex + conspuere to spit upon; pref. con- + spuere to spit. Cf. Spit, v.] (Naut.) 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.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"opening in a ship's side at deck level to let the water flow out," early 15c., perhaps from Old French escopir "to spit out," or related to Dutch schop "shovel," or from Middle English scope "scoop" (see scoop (n.)).
Wiktionary
Etymology 1 n. 1 (context nautical English) A drainage hole on the deck of a ship. 2 (context architecture English) A similar opening in a wall or parapet that allows water to drain from a roof. Etymology 2
vb. (context British English) thwart or destroy, especially something belonging or pertaining to another; compare (term scuttle English).
WordNet
n. drain that allows water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard
Wikipedia
A scupper is an opening in the side walls of an open-air structure, for purposes of draining water. They are usually placed at or near ground level, and allow rain or liquids to flow off the side of the open-air structure, instead of pooling within the walls. There are two main kinds of scupper:
- Ships have scuppers at deck level, to allow for ocean or rainwater drain off.
- Buildings with railed rooftops can construct scuppers to let rainwater drain off, instead of pooling within the railing of the roof. Scuppers can also be placed in a parapet, for the same purpose.
Usage examples of "scupper".
Blackthorne crawled to the gunwale and peeped through a scupper and saw a nearby fishing boat dousing its flare to vanish into the darkness.
For an interminable moment he clung desperately as the water washed over his body and out the scuppers again.
The sea-water splashed in through the scuppers and through the ports, or leaked in, a little at a time, through the seams.
Corpses sprawled in the scuppers who had been caught by the double-shotted six-pounders, and others who had been running to repel boarders when the swivels had scoured the decks with their murderous canister shot.
By the time he returned to the lower deck, to make a final check of the laboratory, water was already spilling ankle-deep through the scuppers, sluicing among the sinks and benches.
A few feet away, creased in the scuppers, the suit lay like a deflated corpse.
Rodrigues spat deftly into the scuppers and went to the port gangway that overlooked the jetty.
Rodrigues spat into the scuppers and one of the helmsmen winced and crossed himself.
A forgotten keg rolled back and forth in the scuppers, crashing off the upper-deck guns.
He slid along the sloping deck and ended up in the lee scuppers, entangled with rope.
He picked up the grenade lying in the scuppers by his feet and pulled out the pin.
Tiny fountains spurted, then mingled before spilling into the scuppers to drain into the endless cycle of sea and sky.
The deck was deserted except for two sailors sluicing the scuppers with sea water.
The sickness in her chest deepened as she looked over the heather-clad hillocks to the right of her and into the distance where lay the river and Jarrow, for it was up here that her da used to bring them on fine Sundays, and he would sit on the highest point and talk to them, always looking towards the river, broadening it for them from the silver thread, which was all they could see, to a vast water on which ships, filled up to the scuppers with coal, set their great sails and went with the wind to London.
The swishing of the water as it spouted from the scuppers was a deal louder than the clang of the chain-pumps.