scissors 
or break, BO that the cutting edges are short and end al>. 
ruptly some distance beyond the rivet, so as to cut in cloth 
a slit which is of fixed length or which does not reach the 
edge. They are often so made that the length of the cut 
is adjustable.- Lamp-scissors, scissors especially made 
for trimming the wicks of lamps. They have commonly a 
bend or step, like a bayonet, in order to keep the fingers 
from contact with the wick, and a box or receptacle, like 
snuffers, to receive the burnt parts trimmed off. Revolv- 
ing scissors, scissors having very short blades which are 
so pivoted as to operate at any desired angle with the han- 
dles, and thus reach deep-seated parts. Scissors and 
paste work (generally abbreviated, scissors and paste), 
mere mechanical compilation as by means of clippings 
pasted together, as distinguished from original work. [Col- 
loq.] 
scissors-grinder (siz'qrz-grin"der), w. 1. One 
whose occupation is the grinding of scissors. 
2. The European goatsucker, Caprimulyu* < 
ropeeug. 
SCissortail (siz'or-tal), . An American bird 
of the family Tyrannidee and genus Milmlux: 
a scissor-tailed flycatcher. The name applies to 
two distinct species. " One of these scissor.birds is M. 
tyrannw, called the /vrk-tatied flycatcher, distinguished 
5400 
and the walls are indented by a keel and a slit in front of 
the keel which is gradually tilled upas the shell enlarges. 
The operculum is circular, horny, and subspiral. '1 he spe- 
cies are inhabitants of the warm seas, and are of small size. 
Scitamineae (sit-a-min'e-e), ii. pi. [NL. (R. 
Brown, 1810) (earlier named Hcituniiiiii (Liu- 
Bas,1751).pLofL.*eifcMMH),<li.Mftaiii(enfa), 
pi., delicacies or dainties for food (< sritus, beau- 
tiful, fit, knowing, clever, pp. of sciseere, *</./. 
seek out: seeMtaJUotiM), + -/-.] A former 
order of monocotyledonous plants, including 
the present orders /((/<'"''<<./' and Miixueeae. 
SCitamineous (sit-a-min'e-us), a. Of or be- 
longing to the Scitamineti. 
Sciuridae (si-u'ri-de), w. pi. [NL., < Sciurus + 
-idle.] A family of sciuromorphic simplici- 
dent rodent mammals, typified by the genus 
A'r/wi/s, containing the squirrels and related 
animals. The postorbital processes are distinct; the 
infraorbital opening is small ; the ribs are twelve or thir- 
teen pairs ; the true molars are rooted, tubercular, three 
above and below on each side; and the premolars are small, 
sometimes deciduous, normally two anove and one below 
on each side. The family Is cosmopolitan, with the ex- 
ception that it is absent from the Australian region. The 
species are very numerous, but the generic forms are 
comparatively few. The leading genera besides Sciurm 
are Sciuropttrus and Pttrmnys, the (lying-squirrels ; Xerus, 
an Ethiopian genus ; Tamiag, the chipmunks ; Spermophi- 
lut, the ground-squirrels ; Cynotnys, the prairie-dogs ; and 
Arctomys, the marmots. The fossil genera are several, 
going back to the Eocene. The family is conveniently 
divided into the arboreal Sciurinie and the terrestrial Arc- 
tinnifinte. See cuts under Jlying -squirrel, Sciuropterus, 
prairiedoy, chickaree, fox-squirrel, squirrel, and chipmunk. 
Sciurinae (si-u-ri'ne), . pi. [NL., < Sciurus + 
-inse. ] A subfamily of Sciuridee. having the tail 
long and bushy, and usually distichous; the 
arboreal squirrels. They are of lithe form and very 
active In their movements, live in trees, and are found in 
nearly all parts of the world, excepting the Australian 
region. 
squirrel (see'Sciurus), + -t'wei.] I. a. Squirrel- 
like; related to Sciuriu, or belonging to the 
Sciuridse ; especially, of or pertaining to the 
sclere 
Sciurus (si-u'rus), . [XL.. < L. x,-in,-ii.t, < Gr. 
aniovpof, a squirrel, lit. 'shade-tailed,' < o/aa, 
shade, shadow, + oiyxi, tail. Hence ult. Ki/nir- 
/</.] A Linnean genus of Kciuridx, now re- 
stricted to arboreal squirrels with a very long 
bushy distichous tail and no parachute. The 
species are numerous, particularly in North America. 
1 he common squirrel of Europe is S. mtliiaris. Thechick- 
aree or red squirrel of America Is S. hudsonius. The com- 

Gray Squirrel (SrfurHS lanlitirnsii). 
inon gray squirrel is 5. carolinemii. The fox-squirrel or 
cat-squirrel is S. cinereus, which runs into many varieties. 
A large and beautiful gray squirrel with tufted ears and a 
red back is S. aberti, inhabiting southwestern parts of the 
United States. S. /ossor is a very large gray Callfornian 
species. There are many in Mexico, and S. astuans is 
South American. Many also Inhabit the warmer parts 
of Asia. See also cuts under squirrel, chickaree, and fox- 
squirrel. 
scl-. For Middle English and dialectal words 
so beginning, see under si-. 
sclandert, w. and . An obsolete form of slan- 
der. 
sclat, n. An obsolete or dialectal form of slaft. 
sclate, sclater, n. Obsolete or dialectal forms 
of slate 2 , slater. 
sclaundert, sclandret, . and < . Middle Eng- 
lish forms of slander. 
Sclav, Sclavonian, etc. See Slat, etc. 
sclayint, sclavvnet, . See slavine. 
veil; prop. *sleire, < D. sluijer = MHG. sloier, 
Scissortail, or Strallowtail Flycatcher IMilvulus forficaltts). 
from If. farjicatus, the swallowtail flycatcher, to which the 
name scissortail most frequently applies, because the bird 
Is so much commoner than the other in English-speaking 
countries. See Milmliu. 
scissor-tailed (siz'or-tald), a. Having a long 
deeply forficate tail which can be opened and 
shut like a pair of scissors, as a bird. Compare 
scissortail. 
scissor-tooth (siz'or-t8th), . The sectorial or 
carnassial tooth of a carnivore, which cuts 
against its fellow of the opposite jaw as one 
blade of a pair of scissors against the other. 
scissorwise (siz'or-wlz), adv. In the manner 
of scissors. 
A pair of scoops . . . close upon one another scissor- 
mse on a hinge. 
Sir C. Wyvitte Thomson, Depths of the Sea, p. 214. 
scissura (si-su'ra), n. ; pi. scissuree (-re). [NL. : 
see Mfemre,! In aaat., a fissure or cleft. 
scissure (sish'ur), . [< OF. scissiire, cisure, < 
L. scissura, a rending, a dividing, < sciudere, pp. 
scissus, cut, divide: see scission.'] A longitu- 
dinal opening in a body made by cutting; a 
cleft; a rent; a fissure; heace, a rupture, split, 
or division ; a schism. 
Therby also, by the space of .vlij. palmes frome the 
place of the lefte arme of Criste, hangynge on ye crosse, 
is a scissure or clyfte in the stone rok, so moche that a 
man almoste may lye theriu. 
Sir R. Gvylfarde, Pylgrymage, p. 26. 
To this Sect may be imputed all the Scimtres that have 
happened in Christianity. Hmoell, Letters, iii. 3. 
Scissurella (sis-u-rel'il), n. [NL. (D'Orbigny, 
1823), < L. scissura, a sl'it, + -ella.] A genus of 
gastropods, with a shell 
whose outer lip is deeply 
slit, typical of the family 
ScisstireUidse. 
Scissurellidse (sis-u-rel'i- 
de), n. pi. [NL., < Seis- 
snrella + -idas.] A family 
of rhipidoglossate gastro- 
pods, typified by the genus 
ScissureUa. The animal has Scissurtiia e 
the mantle-slit in front very long, 
slender at the sides, the tentacles long and ciliated, and 
the foot narrow and truncate in front. The shell is spiral, 
-old.] 
Same as sciurine in a broad sense. 
sciuromorph (sl-u'ro-mdrf), n. Any member 
of the Sciiiromorptia. 
Sciuromorpha (si-u-ro-m6r'fa), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. axlmpef, a squirrel, + ftopijiy, form.] One of 
three superfamilies of simplicident Rodentia, 
comprising the Anomaluridse, Sciuridee, Ischy- 
romyidss (fossil), Haplodontidse, and Castoridx, 
or the scaletails, squirrels in a broad sense, 
sewellels, and beavers: correlated with Myo- 
morpha and Hystricomorpha, and also with La- 
aomorpha of the duplicident series. The clavicles 
are perfect, and the fibula persists as a distinct bone ; the 
angular portion of the lower mandible springs from the 
lower edge of the bony covering of the under Incisor, and 
prernolars are present. 
sciuromorphic (si-u-ro-mor'fik), . [< sciuro- 
morph + -ic.~\ Having the structure of a squir- 
rel; related to the Sciuridee; of or pertaining to 
the Sciuromorpha. 
Sciuropterus (si-u-rop'te-rus), . [NL. (F. Cu- 
vier, 1825), < Gr. OKiovpof'j& squirrel, + -rrrepov, a 
wing.] One of two genera of flying-squirrels 
Flying-squirrel (Scittroptervs pttlverultnttts). 
having a parachute or patagium, and a disti- 
chous tail. They are small species, of Europe, Asia, and 
America, called polat&uches and assapam. The common 
flying squirrel or assapnn of America is S. wlmella. The 
polatouche is S. volans of Europe. See also cut under fly- 
ing-squirrel. 
!, a. Obsolete or dialectal 
sclentt, " '. See slent 1 . 
sclera (skle'ra), n. [NL., < Gr. m'/Jipk, hard, 
rough, harsh: see sclere.] The sclerotic coat 
of the eyeball. 
scleragogy (skle'ra-go-ji), w. [< Gr. a&r/payuyia, 
hardy training, < aK).?/p6f, hard, harsh, + ayew, 
lead, conduct.] Severe discipline or training; 
hard treatment of the body; mortification. 
[Rare.] 
Not our reformation, but our slothfulness, doth Indis- 
pose us, that we let others run faster than we in temper- 
ance, in chastity, in scleragogy, as it was called. 
Bp. Hacket, Abp. Williams, 11. 61. (Trench.) 
scleral (skle'ral), a. [< sclera + -al.~\ Scle- 
rous ; specifically, of or pertaining to the scle- 
ra or sclerotic. 
In the compound eye of Fhacops are continuous patches 
of scleral integument between the ommalidia. 
Amer. Jour. Sci., XXXIX. 410. 
Scleranthese (skle-ran'the-e), w. pi. [NL. 
(Link, 1821), < Scleranthus '+ -ex.] A tribe of 
plants formerly by many included in the order 
Caryophyllacese, now classed in the widely re- 
mote order Illecebracese among other apetalous 
plants. It is characterized by flowers which are all 
alike, an ovary with but one or two ovules, containing an 
annular embryo, and by opposite connate leaves without 
stipules. It includes the typical genus Sclcranthus, and 
Habrosia, a monotypic Syrian annual with a two-ovuled 
ovary. 
scleranthium (skle-ran 'thi-um), n. [< Gr. 
oi&ijpfjf, hard, + i$of, flower.] In bot., same as 
diclesium. [Rare or obsolete.] 
Scleranthus (skle-ran'thus), w. [NL. (Lin- 
naeus, 1737), < Gr. cn/r/p6f, hard, + avfof, a 
flower.] A genus of apetalous plants of the 
order flkcebracese, type of the tribe Sclerantliese. 
It is characterized by a'herbaceous four- or five-toothed 
or -lobed perianth, forming an indurated cup below, and 
by an ovoid one-celled ovary with two erect styles and 
a single pendulous ovule. There are about 10 species, 
natives of Europe, Africa, western Asia, and Australasia ; 
one, S. annuus, the knawel, also called German knot-grass, 
is widely naturalized in the United States. Ihty are 
small rigid herbs with numerous forking branches, often 
forming dense tufts, and bearing opposite rigid and 
prickly-pointed leaves, and small greenish flowers. 
sclere (skier), n. [< Gr. oK/>/p6f, hard, rough, 
harsh, < aid.fjvai, 2d aor. of axtMMV, dry, parch. 
From the same ult. source are E. skclet, skele- 
ton.] In sponges, one of the hard, horny, sili- 
cious, or calcareous bodies which enter into the 
composition of the skeleton ; a skeletal ele- 
ment; a spicule, of whatever kind. 
