scupper

scupper
scupper1
/skup"euhr/, n.
1. Naut. a drain at the edge of a deck exposed to the weather, for allowing accumulated water to drain away into the sea or into the bilges. Cf. freeing port.
2. a drain, closed by one or two flaps, for allowing water from the sprinkler system of a factory or the like to run off a floor of the building to the exterior.
3. any opening in the side of a building, as in a parapet, for draining off rain water.
[1475-85; earlier skoper. See SCOOP, -ER1]
scupper2
/skup"euhr/, v.t. Brit.
1. Mil. to overwhelm; surprise and destroy, disable, or massacre.
2. Informal. to prevent from happening or succeeding; ruin; wreck.
[1880-85; orig. uncert.]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scupper — Ⅰ. scupper [1] ► NOUN ▪ a hole in a ship s side to allow water to run away from the deck. ORIGIN perhaps from Old French escopir to spit . Ⅱ. scupper [2] ► VERB chiefly Brit. 1) sink (a ship) deliberately …   English terms dictionary

  • scupper — opening in a ship s side at deck level, late 15c., perhaps from O.Fr. escopir to spit out, or related to Du. schop shovel, or from M.E. scope scoop (see SCOOP (Cf. scoop)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • scupper — [skup′ər] n. [LME via ? Anglo Fr < OFr escopir, lit., to spit < VL * skuppire, of echoic orig.] 1. an opening in a ship s side to allow water to run off the deck 2. a similar outlet in a building, as for water to run off from a floor or… …   English World dictionary

  • Scupper — 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 of the side of the open air structure, instead of pooling… …   Wikipedia

  • scupper — [[t]skʌ̱pə(r)[/t]] scuppers, scuppering, scuppered VERB To scupper a plan or attempt means to spoil it completely. [mainly BRIT, JOURNALISM] [V n] Any increase in the female retirement age would scupper the plans of women like Gwen Davis... If… …   English dictionary

  • scupper — UK [ˈskʌpə(r)] / US [ˈskʌpər] verb [transitive] Word forms scupper : present tense I/you/we/they scupper he/she/it scuppers present participle scuppering past tense scuppered past participle scuppered 1) British informal to spoil someone s plans… …   English dictionary

  • scupper up — in. to drink liquor, especially beer. □ Tom goes home to scupper up every evening. □ Come on, you guys. Scupper up, and let’s get outa here …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • scupper — verb Scupper is used with these nouns as the object: ↑chance, ↑deal, ↑plan …   Collocations dictionary

  • scupper — scup|per1 [ˈskʌpə US ər] v [T] BrE 1.) to ruin someone s plans or chance of being successful used especially in news reports American Equivalent: scuttle ▪ Plans to build a private hospital have been scuppered after a government inquiry. 2.) to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • scupper — scup|per1 [ skʌpər ] verb transitive 1. ) to make a ship sink by deliberately letting water in 2. ) BRITISH INFORMAL to spoil someone s plans or hopes of success scupper scup|per 2 [ skʌpər ] noun count TECHNICAL a hole in the side of a ship that …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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