scull
Americannoun
-
an oar mounted on a fulcrum at the stern of a small boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward.
-
either of a pair of oars rowed by one rower.
-
a boat propelled by an oar or oars.
-
a light, narrow racing boat for one, two, or sometimes four rowers, each equipped with a pair of oars.
-
sculls, a race involving such boats.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a single oar moved from side to side over the stern of a boat to propel it
-
one of a pair of short-handled oars, both of which are pulled by one oarsman, esp in a racing shell
-
a racing shell propelled by an oarsman or oarsmen pulling two oars
-
(plural) a race between racing shells, each propelled by one, two, or four oarsmen pulling two oars
-
an act, instance, period, or distance of sculling
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
scullsimple
-
scullssimple
-
have sculledperfect
-
has sculledperfect
-
am scullingprogressive
-
are scullingprogressive
-
is scullingprogressive
-
have been scullingperfect progressive
-
has been scullingperfect progressive
Past
-
sculledsimple
-
had sculledperfect
-
was scullingprogressive
-
were scullingprogressive
-
had been scullingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scull
1300–50; Middle English sculle < ?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Back on land, the crew donned blazers and burned an old wooden scull in Peterhouse’s garden.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
The Seattle Times called it the first boathouse in the city to teach elementary-school-age children how to scull in small boats.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 22, 2023
First, the current world champion in the women's single scull will compete in the rowing events in Tokyo, and then next March she is hoping to compete in cross-country skiing at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2021
A few etymologists liken the scooped blade of the scull to the hollow basin of the skull—and others have argued that humans once made these drinking-bowls from actual human skulls.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2021
But scull your chair round, close along side er me, so yer can hear.—Now, what have you come a'ter?"—"I—a'ter?
From The Portland Sketch Book by Various
The author, who lives in Culver City, is still married to the erstwhile sailor, but she now sculls at UCLA’s Marina Aquatic Center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025
The author, who lives in Culver City, is still married to the erstwhile sailor, but she now sculls at UCLA’s Marina Aquatics Center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025
Benjamin Pritchard had led the medal charge with gold in the men’s PR1 single sculls ahead of Italy’s Giacomo Perini, after also setting a Paralympic record in qualifying.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2024
Samuel Murray and Annabel Caddick, who came second in the PR3 mixed double sculls heats, will also go for gold.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2024
Hackett held us up on the way back to look through the windows of the boathouse and point out the single sculls and the eight-man longboats.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
They sculled upside-down, slapped their pecs and flukes seemingly just for fun, maybe just to hear the resonant, smacking sound.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2019
"I sculled my tee shot on 17. It never got much off the ground and hit the ground only about 70 or 80 yards from the tee," Miller said.
From Golf Digest ● Jun. 25, 2019
Final flat whites were sculled at overpriced cafes and out-of-office signatures attached to emails.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 21, 2018
But on Sept. 23 the 72-year-old took to the Mississippi River near the Bass Street Landing and sculled for the first time in his life.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 17, 2014
Marston sculled her past the wall, and the narrow harbor opened up.
From Wyndham's Pal by Bindloss, Harold
The longer you stay underwater, kicking your feet, sculling your arms against all that heaviness and bright blue, the worse it gets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2022
During covid we got our sculling license, so we’d do some sculling for maybe an hour.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2021
“I know no one would care about my sculling techniques in an office, so I’m grateful I’m able to cash in on my lifelong work.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 21, 2016
To learn the quickness and spontaneity that characterizes good sculling, spend some time watching animals.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2013
“You’re just in need of my help,” said Janice, sculling again through her cantaloupe.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
