Jack was living in Arizona during a heat wave when the following took place.
"It"s just too hot to wear clothes today," complained Jack as he stepped out of the shower. "Honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?"
"Probably that I married you for your money."
—v. - burn (the skin etc.) With hot liquid or steam.
- heat (esp. Milk) to near boiling point.
- (usu. Foll. By out) clean with boiling water. —n. Burn etc. Caused by scalding. [latin excaldo from calidus hot]
SCALE
—n. - each of the thin horny plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles.
- something resembling this.
- white deposit formed in a kettle etc. By hard water.
- tartar formed on teeth. —v. (-ling) 1 remove scale(s) from.
- form or come off in scales. scaly adj. (-ier, -iest). [french escale]
- n. - a (often in pl.) Weighing machine. B (also scale-pan) each of the dishes on a simple balance.
- (the scales) zodiacal sign or constellation libra. tip (or turn) the scales 1 be the decisive factor.
- (usu. Foll. By at) weigh. [old norse skál bowl]
- —n. - graded classification system (high on the social scale).
- a (often attrib.) Ratio of reduction or enlargement in a map, model, picture, etc. (on a scale of one inch to the mile; a scale model). B relative dimensions.
- mus. Set of notes at fixed intervals, arranged in order of pitch.
- a set of marks on a line used in measuring etc. B rule determining the distances between these. C rod etc. On which these are marked. —v. (-ling) 1 a climb (a wall, height, etc.). B climb (the social scale, heights of ambition, etc.).
- represent proportionally; reduce to a common scale. in scale in proportion. Scale down (or up) make or become smaller (or larger) in proportion. To scale uniformly in proportion. [latin scala ladder]
SCALP
—n. - skin on the head, with the hair etc. Attached.
- hist. This cut off as a trophy by an american indian. —v. - hist. Take the scalp of (an enemy).
- us colloq. Resell (shares etc.) At a high or quick profit. [probably scandinavian]
SCAMP
n. Colloq. Rascal; rogue. [probably dutch]
SCANT
adj. Barely sufficient; deficient. [old norse]
SCARE
—v. (-ring) 1 frighten, esp. Suddenly.
- (as scared adj.) (usu. Foll. By of, or to + infin.) Frightened; terrified.
- (usu. Foll. By away, off, up, etc.) Drive away by frightening.
- become scared (they don't scare easily). —n. - sudden attack of fright.
- alarm caused by rumour etc. (a measles scare). [old norse]
SCARF
n. (pl. Scarves or -s) piece of material worn esp. Round the neck or over the head, for warmth or ornament. [french escarpe]
- —v. Join the ends of (timber etc.) By bevelling or notching them to fit and then bolting them etc. —n. (pl. -s) joint made by scarfing. [probably french escarf]
SCARP
—n. Steep slope, esp. The inner side of a ditch in a fortification. —v. Make perpendicular or steep. [italian scarpa]
