scagliola 
imitate different kinds of marble, the colors are mixed 
with the paste. Breccias are imitated by introducing 
fragments of colored stucco; granites and porphyries in 
the same way. and also by cutting into the stucco and 
lllling the cavities with a paste having the color of the 
crystals it is desired to imitate. Sometimes the stucco is 
put upon the wall with a brush, as many as twenty coats 
being applied. It is then roughly polished, and the cav- 
ities and defective places tilled up; and this is done over 
and over, until the surface has attained the desired per- 
fection ; a finer polish is then given. 
So was [thrown open] the double door of the entrance- 
hall, letting in the warm light on the scayliola pillars, the 
marble statues, and the broad stone staircase, with its mat- 
ting worn into large holes. George Eliot, Felix Holt, i. 
scaith (skath), n. A Scotch spelling of scathe. 
scaithless (skath'les), a. A Scotch spelling of 
scatheless. 
scala (ska/la), . [L., a ladder, a flight of steps : 
see scale 3 .] 1. In sttrg., an instrument for re- 
ducing dislocations. 2. PI. scales (-le). In 
zoiil. and at/at., one of three cavities of the 
cochlea, in man and other mammals winding 
spirally around the modiolus or columella of 
the ear, as a spiral staircase winds around the 
newel : in lower vertebrates much simplified. 
3. [cop.] In conch., an old generic name of 
wentletraps : same as Scalaria. Klein, 1753. 
Scala media, the middle passage of the spiral canal of the 
cochlea, separated from the scala vestibuli by the mem- 
brane of Reissner and from the scala tympani by the basi- 
lar membrane, and containing upon its floor the organ of 
Corti. It terminates at both apex and base in a blind 
pointed extremity, hut is continuous through the canalis 
reunions, near its basal extremity, with the sacculeof the 
vestibule. Also called canalis rnembranaceus and cochlear 
dud or canal of the cochlea ; the latter two terms, however, 
are sometimes restricted to mean respectively the passage 
between the tectorial membrane and the basilar mem- 
brane and the one between the tectorial membrane and 
the membrane of Reissner. Scala tympani, that part of 
the spiral canal of the cochlea which is on the under side 
of the spiral lamina, and is separated from the scala media 
by the basilar membrane. It communicates with the scala 
vestibuli at the apex of the modiolus, and is separated from 
the tympanum, in the recent state, by the membrane cov- 
ering the fenestra rotunda. Scala vestibuli, one of the 
three passages of the spiral canal of the cochlea, separated 
from the cochlear canal by the membrane of Eeissner. 
It begins at the vestibule, and communicates at the apex 
of the modiolus with the scala tympani. Also called vet- 
tibular passage. 
scalable^ska'la-bl), a. [< settle^ + -able.] Ca- 
pable of being scaled, in any sense of that 
word. Also spelled scaleable. 
By peep of day, Monsieur Didum was about the walls of 
Wesel, and, finding the ditch dry and the rampart scaleable, 
entered. Court and Times of Charles I., II. 27. 
SCaladet (ska-lad'), . [Also scalado (after It. 
or Sp.); < OP. escalade, F. escalade, < It. scalata 
(= Sp. Pg. escalada), a scaling with ladders, < 
scalare, scale: see scale*, v. Doublet of esca- 
lade."] An assault on a fortified place in which 
the soldiers enter by means of ladders ; an es- 
calade. 
The nocturnal scalade of needy heroes. 
Arbuthnot, Hist. John Bull. 
While we hold parley here, 
Raise your scalado on the other side ; 
But, enter'd, wreak your sufferings. 
Fletcher, Double Marriage, v. 3. 
We understood for certain afterward that Monsieur La 
Tour's fort was taken by assault and scalado. 
Winthrop, Hist. New Eng., II. 291. 
scalar (ska'lar), n. and a. [< L. scalaris, of or 
pertaining to a ladder or a flight of steps, < 
scala, scalse, a ladder, flight of steps: see scale^. 
Cf. scalary.] I. . In quaternions, a real num- 
ber, positive or negative, integral, fractional, 
or surd: but some writers lately extend the 
meaning so as to include imaginaries. Sir W. R. 
Hamilton introduced the word with the meaning "a real 
number"; and it tends to confuse the subject to usea word 
needed for one purpose to signify something else for which 
no new word is needed. Scalar Of a quaternion, a sca- 
lar which, being subtracted from the quaternion, leaves a 
vector as the remainder. 
II. a. Of the nature of a scalar.- Scalar func- 
tion. See function. Scalar operation, an operation 
which, performed upon a scalar, gives a scalar. Scalar 
quantity. See quantity. 
Scalaria ( ska-la 'ri-a), . [NL. (Lamarck, 1801), 
< L. scalaris, of or pertaining to a ladder or a 
flight of steps : see scalar.'] A genus of holosto- 
mous ptenoglossate pectinibranchiate gastro- 
pods, typical of the 
family Scalar i id;e : 
the ladder-shells or 
u-cntletraps. They 
are marine shells, most 
ly of warm temperate 
and tropical seas, tiir- 
reted and costate, or 
with many raised cross- 
ribs at intervals along 
the whorls. The most 
celebrated species is S. 
pretiosa, formerly COn- Wi-ntletrap (.?, alaria frettoia). 
5367 
sidered rare and bringing a large price. Also Scala, 
Scalia, Scalariutt, Sealants. 
Scalariacea (ska-la-ri-a'sf-s), n. pi. [NL., < 
Sealaria + -acea.] Same as Scalariidee. 
SCalarian (ska-la'ri-an), a. and . [< Scalarin 
+ -an.] I. a. Of of pertaining to Scalaria or 
the Scalariides. 
II. H. A species of Scalaria. 
Scalaridae (ska-lar'i-de), re. pi. [NL.] Same 
as Scalariidie. 
scalariform (ska-lar'i-form), a. [< L. xcalaria, 
a flight of steps' (neut. pi. of ncalaris, of or per- 
taining to a ladder or a flight of steps : see sco- 
ter), + forma, form.] 1. Shaped like a ladder; 
resembling a ladder. Specifically (a) In entom. , not- 
ing the venules or small cross-veins of an insect's wings 
when they are perpendicular to the longitudinal veins and 
placed at regular distances, like the rounds of a ladder. 
(6) In bot., noting cells or vessels in which the walls are 
thickened in such a way as to form transverse ridges. 
These ridges, or alternating thick and thin places, follow 
each other with as much regularity as the rounds of a 
ladder. 
2. In conch., resembling or related to Scalaria; 
scalarian.- Scalariform conjugation, in fresh- water 
algee, conjugation between several cells of two different 
filaments, when the two lie very near one another side by 
side. Each cell of each filament sends out a short pro- 
tuberance on the side facing the other filament. When 
these protuberances meet, the cell-wall becomes absorbed 
at the extremity of each, and an open tube is thus formed. 
It is the ordinary mode of conjugation in the Mesocarpa- 
ceas. Scalariform vessels, vessels in which the walls 
are thickened in a scalariform manner. They are espe- 
cially abundant in ferns. 
Scalariidae (skal-a-ri'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Sca- 
luria + -idee.] Afamily of ptenoglossate gas- 
tropods whose type genus is Scalaria ; the wen- 
tletraps. The animal has elongated tentacles, with eyes 
near their external base, a single gill, and many nnciform 
or aciculate teeth in each cross-row on the radula ; the 
shell is turreted, with the aperture entire and subcircular. 
The species are numerous, especially in warm seas. Also 
Scaliidai, Scalariacea, Scalaridse. See cut under Scalaria. 
scalary (ska'la-ri), a. [< L. scalaris, of or per- 
taining to a ladder or a flight of steps: see 
scalar^] Resembling a ladder; formed with 
steps. [Rare.] 
Certain elevated places and scalary ascents. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., v. 13. 
scalawag, scallawag (skal'a-wag), n. [Appar. 
an altered form of Scalloway, orig. applied to 
the diminutive cattle imported from Shetland, 
of which Sealloway was the former capital. Cf. 
sheltie, a diminutive horse from Shetland. For 
the application of the word scalawag, an infe- 
rior or worthless animal, to a worthless man. 
of. rascal and runt in similar uses.] 1. An 
under-sized, scraggy, or ill-fed animal of little 
value. 
The truth is that the number of miserable "scallawaas " 
Is so great that . . . they tend to drag down all above 
themselves to their own level. 
New York Tribune (Cattle Report), Oct. 24, 1S64. 
2. A worthless, good-for-nothing, or contemp- 
tible fellow; a scamp; a scapegrace. The word 
was used in the southern United States, during the period 
of reconstruction (1865 to 1870 and laterX in an almost 
specific sense, being opprobriously applied by the oppo- 
nents of the Republican party to native Southerners who 
acted with that party, as distinguished from carpet-bagger, 
a Republican of Northern origin. [U. S.) 
You good-for-nothin' young scalawag. 
Haliburton (Sam Slick), Human Nature. (Bartletl.) 
I don't know that he's much worth the saving. He 
looks a regular scalawag. Harper's Mag., LXXIX. 1>7. 
scald 1 (skald), v. t. ; pret. and pp. scalded (for- 
merly or dial, also scall), ppr. scalding. [< ME. 
scalden, schalden, scoldcn, scald, burn (with hot 
liquid or with a hot iron), = Icel. skalda = 
Norw. skaalda = Sw. skdlla = Dan. skolde, 
scald, < OF. escalder. eschauder, F. echauder = 
Sp. Pg. cscaldar = It. scaldare, heat with hot 
water, scald, < LL. excaldare, wash in hot wa- 
ter, < L. ex-, out, thoroughly, + caldus, contr. of 
calidus, hot, < calere, be hot: see calid, caldron, 
etc., and cf. chafe, ult. from the same L. verb.] 
1. To bum or affect painfully with or as with 
a hot or boiling liquid or with steam : formerly 
used also of burning with a hot iron. 
I am scalded with my violent motion. 
Shak., K. John, v. 7. 49. 
Thick flow'd their tears, but mocked them the more, 
And only scall their cheeks which flam'd before. 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, vi. 41. 
Close to Earth his Face, 
Scalding with Tears th' already faded Grass. 
Congreve, Death of Queen Mary. 
2. To cook slightly by exposure for a short 
time to steam or to hot water or some other 
heated liquid: as, to scald milk. 3. To sub- 
ject to the action of boiling water for the pur- 
pose of cleansing thoroughly: as, to scald a tub. 
Take ehekyns, scalde horn fayre and clene. 
Liber Cure Cocorum, p. 22. 
scald-head 
To scald hogs and take of their haire, glabrare sues. 
Baret. 
She 's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you 
are. Shale., T. of A., ii. 2. 71. 
scald 1 (skald), 11. [< scald 1 , c.] A burn or in- 
jury to the skin and flesh by a hot liquid or va- 
por. =Syn. Jlurn, Scald. Seeburnl. 
scald 2 (skald), w. [An erroneous form of scall, 
apparently due to confusion with scald 2 , a.] 
Scab ; scall ; scnrf on the head. 
Her crafty head was altogether bald, 
And, as in hate of honorable eld, 
Was overgrowne with scurfe and filthy scald. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. viit 47. 
Blanch swears her husband 's lovely, when a scald 
Has blear'd his eyes. Herrick, Upon Blanch. 
scald 2 , a. See scalled. 
scald 3 , Skald 3 (skald or skald), n. [< ME. scald, 
scalde, scawde (= G. skalde = Sw. skald = Dan. 
skjald), < Icel. skald, a poet, the accepted word 
for 'poet,' but prob. orig. or later used in a de- 
preciative sense (as indicated by the derived 
skdldi, a poetaster, a vagrant verse-maker, skdld- 
fifl, a poetaster ; cf . skalda, make verses (used in 
depreciation), leir-skald, a poetaster (Mr, clay), 
skdldskapr, a libel in verse, also (in a good 
sense) poetry, etc., skeeldinn, libelous, etc.). Ac- 
cording to Skeat, perhaps orig. 'loud talker,' 
< skjalla (pret. shall) (= Sw. skalla = G. schal- 
len), resound ; akin to scold : see scold. Accord- 
ing to Cleasby and Vigfusson, the name has ref- 
erence to libels and imprecations which were in 
the heathen age scratched on poles; cf. skalda 
(= OHO. scalta, MHG. schalte), a pole, skdld- 
stong, also nidhstoitt/ (nidlt, a libel), a pole with 
imprecations and charms scratched on it.] An 
ancient Scandinavian poet; one who composed 
poems in honor of distinguished men and their 
achievements, and recited and sang them on 
public occasions. The scalds of the Norsemen 
answered to the bards of the Britons or Celts. 
So proudly the Scalds raise their voices of triumph, 
As the Northmen ride over the broad-bosomed billow. 
W. Motheruxtt, Battle-flag of Sigurd. 
I heard his scalds strike up triumphantly 
Some song that told not of the weary sea. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, I. 18. 
scald 4 (skald), r. A Scotch form of scold. 
scald 5 (skald), n. [Short for scaldiceed.] A 
European dodder, CuscutaEuropxa. Also scald- 
weed. [Prov. Eug.] 
scaldabancot, [< It. scaldabanro, "one that 
keepes a seate warme, but ironically spoken of 
idle lecture[r]s that possesse a pewe in the 
schooles or pulpet in churches and baffle out 
they know not what; also a hot-headed puri- 
tane" (Florio, 1611); < scaldare, heat, warm, + 
banco, bench : see scald 1 and bank 2 . The allu- 
sion in mountebanka,Tid saltimbanco is different.] 
A hot declaimer. 
The Presbyterians, those Scalda-bancos or hot declamers, 
had wrought a great distast in the Commons at the king. 
Bp. Haclcet, Abp. Williams, ii. 182. (Dairies.) 
SCaldberry (skald'ber'i), n. The European 
blackberry, JHubus fruticosus, which was once 
reputed to give children scald-head. 
scalder 1 (skal'der), n. [< scaldi + -cr 1 .] 1. 
One who scalds (meat, vessels, etc.). 
Or Ralph there, with his kitchen-boys and scalders. 
Fletcher (and another), Elder Brother, ii. 8. 
2. A pot or vessel for scalding: as, a milk- 
scalder. 
scalder 2 t (skal'der or skal'der), n. An errone- 
ous form of scald'*. 
These practices and opinions co-operated with the kin- 
dred superstitions of dragons, dwarfs, fairies, giants, and 
enchanters, which the traditions of the Gothic scalden had 
already planted. 
T. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. diss. i. (Latham.) 
scald-fish (skald'fish), n. A marine pleuronec- 
tid or flatfish, Arnoglo.tstis laterna : so called, 
Scald-fish (A 
it is said, from its appearance of having been 
dipped in scalding water. Dai/. 
scald-head (skald'hed), ii. [< scald?, scalled, 
+ head.] A vague term in vulgar use for tinea 
favosa, and other affections of the scalp which 
superficially resemble it. 
