scald-head 
Mean of stature he [Mahometl was, and evill propor- 
tioned ; having ever a scald-head, which made him wear a 
white shash continually. Sandy*, Travailes, p. 42. 
scaldic (skal'- or skal'dik), a. [< sealtfi + -/V.J 
Pertaining to the scalds or Norse poets ; com- 
posed by scalds. 
scalding (skal'ding), . [Verbal n. of scald 1 , p.] 
1. The act or process of burning with hot 
liquid or with steam. 2. pi. Things scalded or 
boiled, especially while still scalding hot. 
Immediately the boy belonging to our mess ran to the 
locker, from whence he carried otf a large wooden platter, 
and in a few minutes returned with it full of boiled peas, 
crying Scoldings all the way as he came. 
SmoUett, Roderic 
ick Random, xxv. (Davits.) 
scaldino (skal-de'no), n. [It., < scaldare, heat : 
see MOU*.] A small covered brazier of glazed 
earthenware, used in Italy. 
Old Venetian Scaldino. 
A man who had lived for forty years in the pungent 
atmosphere of an air-tight stove, succeeding a quarter of 
a century of roaring hearth fires, contented himself with 
the spare heat of a scaldino, which he held his clasped 
hands over in the very Italian manner. 
W. D. Howells, Indian Summer, xi. 
An aged crone with a scaldino in her lap, a tattered 
shawl over her he:id, and an outstretched, skinny palm, 
guards the portal of every sanctuary. 
The Century, XXX. 208. 
scaldragt (skald'rag), w. [< scald 1 , v., + obj. 
ro^ 1 .] One who scalds or boils rags ; ascalder: 
a nickname for a dyer. 
For to he a laundres imports onely to wash or dresse 
lawne, which is as much impeachment as to cal a justice 
of the peace a beadle, a dyer a scaldragge, or a fish- 
monger a seller of gubhins. 
John Taylor, Works (1630), II. 166. (HattitceU.) 
scaldweed (skald' wed), n. Same as scald 6 . 
scale 1 (skal), n. [Early mod. E. also skale; < 
ME. scale, also assibilated shale, schale, < AS. 
scealu, sceale, a scale, husk, = MD. schaele, 
D. schaal, a scale, husk, = MLG. schale = 
OHG. scala (& or a), MHG. sclutle, schal (a 
or a), G. schale, a shell, husk, scale, = Dan. 
skal, shell, peel, rind, skeel, the scale of a 
fish, = Sw. skal, a shell, peel, rind, = Goth. 
skalja, a tile; cf. OF. escale, F. ecale, ecaille 
= It. scaglia, a shell, scale (< OHG.); akin to 
AS. scale, scdle, MHG. scale, scale, E. scale, 
etc., a bowl, dish of a balance, etc. (see scale 2 ), 
to AS. scyll, scell, E. shell, etc. (see shell), to G. 
scholle, a flake (of ice), a clod, etc. ; < Teut. 
/ "skal, *skel, separate, split ; cf. OBulg, skoltka, 
a mussel (-shell), Euss. skala, bark, shell, Lith. 
skelti, split, etc. From the same root are ult. 
E. scale*, shale 1 (a doublet of scale 1 ), shale'*, 
shell, scall, scalp 1 , scallop = scollop, scull 1 = 
skull\ scull 2 = skull 2 , skill, etc., skoal (a doub- 
let of scale 2 ), etc., and prob. the first element 
in scabbard*. Cf. scale 1 , v.] 1. A husk, shell, 
pod, or other thin cover- 
ing of a seed or fruit, as 
of the bean. 2. Inbot., 
a small rudimentary or 
thin scarious body, usu- 
ally a metamorphosed 
leaf, scale-like in form 
and often in arrange- 
ment, constituting the 
covering of the leaf-buds 
of deciduous trees in 
cold climates, the involu- 
cre of the Composite, the 
bracts of the catkin, the 
imbricated and thick- 
ened leaves which con- 
stitute the bulb, and the 
like. Also applied in the 
Coniferse to the leaves or 
bracts of the cone, and 
, ., 
tO tile Chan On the Stems 
nf foiMic *! alcm /.IITC 
oi terns, toee also cuts 
under imbricate and ros- 
j * o T "I 
m-plattt. 3. In sool., 
a, the scale-like leaves of 
the stem of l.athrtea Syua- 
maria ; b, the cone with the 
Ka | es - f C ut*"i* amptr- 
*>"" ; <-. the imbricate scaie- 
like bracts of the spike of Cy- 
5368 
an epidermal or exoskeletal structure that is 
thin, flat, hard or dry, and of some definite 
extent; a piece of cuticle that is squamous, 
scaly, or horny, and does not constitute a 
hair, a feather, or a horn, hoof, nail, or claw; 
a squama ; a scute ; a scutellum. All these struc- 
tures, however, belong to one class, and there is no ab- 
solute distinction. Scales are often of large size and 
great comparative thickness or solidity, and may be re- 
inforced by bone, in which case they are commonly called 
shields or plates. Specifically (a) In ichtft., one of the 
particular modifications of epidermis which collectively 
form the usual covering, more or less complete, of fishes ; 
a fish-scale. They are of many forma and sizes, but 
have been sometimes considered under the four heads of 
cycloid, ctenoid, ganoid, and placoid, and fishes have been 
classified accordingly, as by Agassiz. (Bee cycloid, etc.) 
They are developed on the inner side of the general epi- 
dermis, but vary greatly in form and other characteris- 
tics. In most livlngfishes they are expanded horny lamel- 
!;<. and imbricated, the posterior edges of one transverse 
row overlapping adjacent parts of the succeeding row. 
Growth takes place from a central, subcentral, or posterior 
nucleus by increase at the periphery. <Jenerally the ante- 
rior part, or base of insertion, is provided with striie or 
grooves diverging backward. (1) In numerous fishes 
growth takes place in layers and at the posterior edges as 
much as at the anterior, 
and there are no teeth or 
denticles at the posterior 
margin : such are called 
cycloid scales. (2) When 
the posterior margin is 
beset with denticles, a 
ctenoid scale is the result. 
When vestiges of such 
teeth or denticles are re- 
tained on the surface be- 
tween the nucleus and the 
posterior margin, the BUT- <*, Cycloid Scale of Caranx, en- 
faceistothatextentmuri- lai X ed - *.CtenoiciScaieof/^Aij. 
t j i *i f . *i enlarged. f t Ganoid Scale of Lefi* 
cated. Inotherformsthe do *t?us tr*t*cht. s , three fifths nat 
growth is almost entirely ural size, 
sideways and forward, 
and the nucleus is consequently near the posterior edge. 
(3) Still other fishes have a hard enameled surface to the 
scale, which is generally of a rhomboidal form, and such 
a scale is called ganoid; but few modern fishes are thus 
armed, though scales of this kind were developed by 
numerous extinct forma. (4) When the scales are very 
small, or represented by ossified 
papillae of the cut is, they are 
called placoid; such are found 
in most of the sharks. Be- 
tween these various types there 
are gradations, and there are 
also numerous modifications 
in other directions. The pres- 
ence or absence of scales be- 
comes also of slight systematic 
importance in some groups, and 
the same family may contain 
species with a scaleless body 
and others with scales of the 
ctenoid and cycloid types. The 
scales of various fishes, as the 
sheepshead, mullet, and drum, 
are used in the manufacture of ornamental work, as 
mock jewelry, flower-sprays, etc. Pearl-white or essence 
d'Orient, used in making artificial pearls, is prepared from 
the scales of Alburnus lucidus and other cyprinoid fishes. 
(6) In herpet., one of the cuticular structures which form 
the usual covering of reptiles proper, as distinguished 
from amphibians, as a snake or lizard. These scales are 
commonly small, and are distinguished from the special 
shields or plates which cover the head, and the large spe- 
cialized gastrostege* or urosteges of the under parts, as of a 
serpent. They are usually arranged in definite rows or 
series, and are also called scutes or scidella. In the Chela- 
nia or turtles one of the thin plates of tortoise-shell which 
cover the carapace is a scale. See tortoise-shell, (c) In or- 
nith. : (1) A reduced feather, lacking locked barbs, and with 
flattened stem : as, the scales of a penguin. (-2) A feather 
with metallic luster or iridescence, as those on the throat 
of a humming-bird. (3) A nasal opercle ; a nariuorn : as. 
the nasal scale, (4) One of the large regular divisions of 
the tarsal envelop ; a scutellum : the smaller or irregular 
pieces being usually called plates, (d) In mammal., one 
of the cuticular plates which may replace hairs on much 
of the body : as, the scales of a pangolin, 
4. Something like or likened to a scale : some- 
thing desquamated or exfoliated; a flake j a 
shell ; a scab. 
In the spiritual conflict of S. Pauls conversion there fell 
scales from his eyes that were not perceav'd before. 
Milton, Church-Government, i. 7. 
Specifically (a) A thin plate of bone ; a scale-like or shell- 
like bone : as, the human lacry mal bone is a mere scale; the 
squamosal is a thin scale of bone. (6) A part of theperios- 
tracum, or epidermal covering of the shell of a niollusk. 
(c) One of the broad flat structures, or hemielytra, which 
cover some annelids, as the scalebacks, with a kind of 
defensive armor, (d) In entom, : (l)Oue of the minute 
structures which constitute the covering of the wings of 
lepidopterous insects, as the furriness of a butterfly or 
moth. These are modified hairs which when well de- 
veloped are thin, flat plates, pointed at the end where 
they are attached to the surface and generally divided 
into a number of long teeth at the other end ; they are set 
in rows overlapping each other slightly, like tiles or 
shingles on a roof. These scales are ornamented with mi- 
croscopic lines, and are of various and often very bright 
colors. By covering the transparent membrane of the 
wings they form the beautiful patterns much admired in 
these insects. See cut in next column, and cut under Lepi- 
doptera. (-2) One of the plates, somewhat similar to those on 
a butterfly's wing, covering the bodies of most Thysanura 
(LepismatidK,Poduridie). (3) One of the little flakes which, 
scattered singly or close together, so as to cover the whole 
surface in a uniform manner, ornament the bodies and 
scale 
Placoid Scales of ; 
(Odontasfi* 
Scales from Wing of Butterfly (fatteua arttiofa), highly magnified. 
i, from bolder of anterior wing, above; a, from border of 
anterior wing, below. 
wing-covers of many beetles, especially species of Cvrcu- 
lionida. These scales are frequently mingled with hairs ; 
they are often metallic and very beautifully colored. (4) 
One of the rudimentary wings of some insects, as fleas, 
or some similar process or formation on the thorax : as, 
the covering scale, the operculum or tegula of various in- 
sects. See tegvla. (5) The shield covering the body of most 
female scale-insects (Coccidx), and subsequently, when 
the insect dies -and shrivels up, serving to protect the 
a. Scales of Cftionasfis finifolia: upon pine-leaves, natural size ; 
. scale of male, enlarged ; c, straight scale of female, enlarged ; d, 
curved scale of female, enlarged. 
eggs and young which are concealed beneath it. (See ac- 
companying cut.) It is formed either by an exudation 
from the body of the female, or by her cast-off larva-skins 
cemented together. Hence (6)Acoccid; a scale-insect: 
as, the barnacle scale, Ceroplastes cirripedtformis, common 
in Florida. See cutsunder coccus, cochineal, and scale-insect. 
(7) A vertical dilatation of the petiole of the abdomen, found 
in some ants. Also called nodus or node, (e) One of the 
large hard scabs which form in some diseases of the human 
skin. (/) One of the metal plates which form the sides of 
the frame of a pocketknife, and to which the outer part, of 
ivory or other material, is riveted, (g) The crust of oxid 
formed on the surface of a metal heated with exposure to 
the air : used chiefly with reference to iron, as in the terms 
mill-scale, hammer-scale, etc. Black scale, Lecanium 
olea, which feeds on the olive, oleander, citron, etc. It 
originated in Europe, but is now found in California and 
Australia. [ Cal ifornla.] Chaff scale, Parlatoria per- 
gandei, an enemy of the orange and lemon. [Florida.] 
Cottony maple-scale. See Pulmnaria. Flat scale, Le- 
canium hesperidum, a common greenhouse pest on many 
plants in all parts of the world. Fluted scale. See cush- 
ton-scale. Long scale, Mytilaspis gloveri, a pest of citrus- 
plants, common to southern Europe and the southern 
United States. [Florida.] Mining scale, Chionaspis bi- 
clavis, which burrows beneath the epidermal layer of 
leaves and twigs of various tropical plants. Oleander 
scale, AspidwtuH nerii, a cosmopolitan enemy of the olean- 
der. Pine-leaf scale, Chionaspis pin\Mi. See figure 
above. Purple scale, 3IytHaspis citricola, a pest of citrus- 
plants in southern Europe and the southern United States. 
[Florida.] Quince scale, Aspidiotus cydonia, which in- 
fests the quince in Florida. Ked scale.-^oHtdia aurantii, 
a cosmopolitan enemy of the orange. Rose scale, Di- 
aspis rosx. San Jos^ scale, Azpidiotus perniciosus, in- 
festing the apple and pear on the Pacific coast of the 
United States. Scales scaled. See scaled. Scurfy 
scale, Chionaspis fur/urus, a common pest of the apple 
in the United States. White scale. Same as citshion- 
scale. Willow scale, Chionaspis salicis, the common 
white- willow bark-louse of Europe and North America. 
scale 1 (skal), v. ; pret. and pp. scaled, ppr. scal- 
in</. [Formerly also skale (Sc. skail); < ME. 
scalen, schalen = OHG. skclen, MHG. scheln, G. 
xchiilen, shell, = Sw. skala = Dan. skalle, shell, 
hull (cf. D. schilleii, pare, peel) ; from the noun, 
but in the mere sense ' separate ' prob. in part 
a secondary form (as if a var. of skill, i:) of the 
