Scapin, valet of Léandre, son of Seignior Géronte. (See Fourberies.)—Molière, Les Fourberies de Scapin (1671).
(Otway has made an English version of this play, called The Cheats of Scapin, in which Léandre is Anglicized into “Leander,” Géronte is called “Gripe,” and his friend, Argante, father of Zerbinette, is called “Thrifty,” father of “Lucia.”
Scapi´no, the cunning, knavish servant of Gratiano, the loquacious and pedantic Bolognese doctor.—Italian Mask.
Scar (Little), son of Major and Madam Carroll, believed by his father to be legitimate, known by his mother to have been born during the lifetime of her first husband, although she had married the major, supposing herself a widow.—Constance Fenimore Woolson, For the Major.
Scar´amouch, a braggart and fool, most valiant in words, but constantly being drubbed by Harlequin. Scaramouch is a common character in Italian farce, originally meant in ridicule of the Spanish don, and therefore dressed in Spanish costume. Our clown is an imbecile old idiot, and wholly unlike the dashing poltroon of Italian pantomime. The best “Scaramouches” that ever lived were Tiberio Fiurelli, a Neapolitan (born 1608), and Gandini (eighteenth century).
Scar´borough Warning (A), a warning given too late to be taken advantage of. Fuller says the allusion is to an event which occurred in 1557, when Thomas Stafford seized upon Scarborough Castle, before the townsmen had any notice of his approach. Heywood says a “Scarborough warning” resembles what is now called Lynch law: punished first, and warned afterwards. Another solution is this: If ships passed the castle without saluting it by striking sail, it was customary to fire into them a shotted gun, by way of warning.
Be suërly seldom, and never for much ...
Or Scarborow warning, as ill I believe,
When (“Sir, I arrest ye”) gets hold of thy sleeve.
T. Tusser, Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, x. 28 (1557).
Scarlet (Will), Scadlock or Scathelocke, one of the companions of Robin Hood.
“Take thy good bowe in thy hande,” said Robyn.
“Let Moche wend with the
And so shall Wyllyam Scathelocke,
And no man abyde with me.”
Ritson, Robin Hood Ballads, i. 1 (1520).