Scarf. To join two pieces of timber at their ends by shaving them down and placing them over-lapping.
Schooner. (See Plate 4.) A small vessel with two masts and no tops.
A fore-and-aft schooner has only fore-and-aft sails.
A topsail schooner carries a square fore topsail, and frequently, also, topgallant sail and royal. There are some schooners with three masts. They also have no tops.
A main-topsail schooner is one that carries square topsails, fore and aft.
Score. A groove in a block or dead-eye.
Scotchman. A large batten placed over the turnings-in of rigging. (See Batten.)
Scraper. A small, triangular iron instrument, with a handle fitted to its centre, and used for scraping decks and masts.
Scrowl. A piece of timber bolted to the knees of the head, in place of a figure-head.
Scud. To drive before a gale, with no sail, or only enough to keep the vessel ahead of the sea. Also, low, thin clouds that fly swiftly before the wind.