Scalade (from the Fr. escalade). A furious attack upon a wall or rampart, contrary to form, and with no regularity, frequently carried on with ladders, to insult the wall by open force.
Scale. To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to clamber up; as, to scale the ramparts.
Scale-armor. Consisted of small plates of steel riveted together in a manner resembling the scales of a fish. From the small size of the plates, it possessed considerable pliability, and was therefore a favorite protection for the neck, in the form of a curtain hanging from the helmet. Scale-armor is now obsolete, except, perhaps, among some Eastern potentates.
Scaling. Scaling a piece of artillery, is the flashing off of a small quantity of powder to clean out the bore; about one-twelfth of the shot’s weight. The practice is discontinued.
Scaling-ladders (Fr. echelles de siege). Are ladders used in scaling when a place is to be taken by surprise. They are made several ways; sometimes of flat staves, so as to move about their pins, and shut like a parallel ruler, for conveniently carrying them.
Scamper. To run away precipitately; said of troops.
Scandinavia. The ancient name of Sweden, Norway, and a great part of Denmark, whence proceeded the Northmen, or Normans, who conquered Normandy (about 900), and eventually England (1066). See [Normans].
Scarf. In heraldry, a small ecclesiastical banner suspended from the top of a crozier.
Scarp, To. To cut down a slope so as to render it inaccessible. See [Counterscarp], and [Escarp].
Scarpe. In heraldry, a diminutive of the bend sinister, being half the breadth of that ordinary.