scupper

1
[ skuhp-er ]

noun
  1. Nautical. 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.: Compare 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.

  1. any opening in the side of a building, as in a parapet, for draining off rainwater.

Origin of scupper

1
First recorded in 1475–85; Middle English skopor, scopper; further origin uncertain

Words Nearby scupper

Other definitions for scupper (2 of 2)

scupper2
[ skuhp-er ]

verb (used with object)
  1. Informal. to prevent from happening or succeeding; ruin; wreck: The snowstorm scuppered our plans for the evening.

  2. British. to sink (a vessel) deliberately; scuttle.

Origin of scupper

2
First recorded in 1880–85; originally British military slang “to massacre, slaughter”; further origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scupper in a sentence

  • The combers were crashing over the weather rail in solid cascades, and the scupper-ports were not large enough to carry it off.

    The Viking Blood | Frederick William Wallace
  • Down from the forecastle roof tumbled Jack Cockrell and went sliding across the deck, heels over head, to fetch up in the scupper.

    Blackbeard: Buccaneer | Ralph D. Paine
  • At that moment a tremendous sea struck the vessel, carrying the mate and myself into the lee scupper.

    Torrey's Narrative | William Torrey
  • Stopping the scupper, the rolling of the vessel would wash the water and sand from one side to the other.

    Torrey's Narrative | William Torrey
  • The rods had a sharp scupper on the outside of the big end so placed as also to throw the oil on this same thrust face.

British Dictionary definitions for scupper (1 of 2)

scupper1

/ (ˈskʌpə) /


noun
  1. nautical a drain or spout allowing water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard

  2. an opening in the side of a building for draining off water

  1. a drain in a factory floor for running off the water from a sprinkler system

Origin of scupper

1
C15 skopper, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to scoop

British Dictionary definitions for scupper (2 of 2)

scupper2

/ (ˈskʌpə) /


verb(tr) British
  1. slang to overwhelm, ruin, or disable

  2. to sink (one's ship) deliberately

Origin of scupper

2
C19: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012