I. noun
also skull ˈskəl
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sculle, skulle
1.
a. : an oar used at the stern of a boat to propel it foward with a thwartwise motion
b. : one of a pair of oars usually less than 10 feet in length and operated by one person
2. : a boat usually for racing propelled by one or sometimes two persons using sculls
3. sculls plural : a sculling race
4. : the act of sculling
II. verb
also skull “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to propel (a boat) by means of one or more pairs of sculls
b. : to propel (a boat) by means of a large oar resting in a notch in the transom and worked thwartwise with a turning motion
2. : to convey by sculling
had all he could do to scull us through the breakers — J.E.H.Nolan
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to scull a boat
b. of a boat : to admit of being sculled
2. : to move forward in water by the slow sideways motion of the tail
the sinuous power of the dolphins, whose easy sculling imparts such astounding impetus — William Beebe
3. : to draw a canoe broadside in the direction of the paddle by moving the blade in feathered position in the pattern of a figure-eight parallel to the canoe always drawing the blade against the water
4.
a. : to propel oneself through the water especially on the back by moving the hands in figure-eight rotations and pressing the palms always away from the direction of movement
b. : to maintain the body at the surface of the water by moving the hands in a similar pattern with the palms pressing downward
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Scottish Gaelic or Old Norse; Scottish Gaelic sgulan large wicker basket, from Old Norse skjōla bucket; akin to Old Norse skjōl hiding place, refuge — more at culet
Scotland : a large shallow wicker basket often used for produce or fishing tackle
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
obsolete : scullion
V.
Scotland
variant of skull