Part 80

Here the blue flames of scalding brimstone fall.

Cowley.

2. To expose to a boiling or violent heat over a fire, or in hot water or other liquor; as, to scald milk or meat.

Scald, n. A burn, or injury to the skin or flesh, by some hot liquid, or by steam.

Scald, a. [For scalled. See Scall.] 1. Affected with the scab; scabby. Shak.

2. Scurvy; paltry; as, scald rhymers. [Obs.] Shak.

Scald crow (Zoöl.), the hooded crow. [Ireland] -- Scald head (Med.), a name popularly given to several diseases of the scalp characterized by pustules (the dried discharge of which forms scales) and by falling out of the hair.

Scald, n. Scurf on the head. See Scall. Spenser.

Scald (skld or skld; 277), n. [Icel. skld.] One of the ancient Scandinavian poets and historiographers; a reciter and singer of heroic poems, eulogies, etc., among the Norsemen; more rarely, a bard of any of the ancient Teutonic tribes. [Written also skald.]

A war song such as was of yore chanted on the field of battle by the scalds of the yet heathen Saxons.

Sir W. Scott.

Scald"er (?), n. A Scandinavian poet; a scald.

Scald"fish` (?), n. [Scald, a. + fish.] (Zoöl.) A European flounder (Arnoglossus laterna, or Psetta arnoglossa); -- called also megrim, and smooth sole.

Scald"ic (? or ?), a. Of or pertaining to the scalds of the Norsemen; as, scaldic poetry.

Scale (skl), n. [AS. scle; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. skl balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. scla, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E. scale of a fish. Cf. Scale of a fish, Skull the brain case.] 1. The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.

Long time in even scale The battle hung.

Milton.

The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no more Now than my vows.

Waller.

2. pl. (Astron.) The sign or constellation Libra.

Platform scale. See under Platform.

Scale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scaled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scaling.] To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.

Scaling his present bearing with his past.

Shak.

To scale, or scale down, a debt, wages, etc., to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale. [U.S.]

Scale, n. [Cf. AS. scealu, scalu, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal, G. schale, OHG. scala, Dan. & Sw. skal a shell, Dan. skiæl a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; but perhaps rather fr. OF. escale, escaile, F. écaille scale of a fish, and écale shell of beans, pease, eggs, nuts, of German origin, and akin to Goth. skalja, G. schale. See Shale.] 1. (Anat.) One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.

Fish that, with their fins and shining scales, Glide under the green wave.

Milton.