I. scup ‧ per 1 /ˈskʌpə $ -ər/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] British English
1 . to ruin someone’s plans or chance of being successful – used especially in news reports SYN scuttle American English :
Plans to build a private hospital have been scuppered after a government inquiry.
2 . to deliberately sink your own ship
II. scupper 2 BrE AmE noun [countable] technical
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Perhaps from scoop ]
a hole in the side of a ship that allows water to flow back into the sea