SCHOONER. Strictly, a small craft with two masts and no tops, but the name is also applied to fore-and-aft vessels of various classes. There are two-topsail schooners both fore and aft, main-topsail schooners, with two square top-sails; fore-topsail schooners with one square top-sail. Ballahou schooners, whose fore-mast rakes forward; and we also have three-masted vessels called schooners.
SCHOUT. A water-bailiff in many northern European ports, who superintends the police for seamen.
SCHRIVAN. An old term for a ship's clerk.
SCHULL. See [School].
SCHUYT. A Dutch vessel, galliot rigged, used in the river trade of Holland.
SCIMETAR. An eastern sabre, with a broad, very re-curved blade.
SCOBS. The scoria made at the armourer's forge.
SCONCE. A petty fort. Also, the head; whence Shakspeare's pun in making Dromio talk of having his sconce ensconced. Also, the Anglo-Saxon for a dangerous candle-holder, made to let into the sides or posts in a ship's hold. Also, sconce of the magazine, a close safe lantern.
SCOODYN. An old word to express the burring which forms on vessels' bottoms, when foul.
SCOOP. A long spoon-shaped piece of wood to throw water, when washing a ship's sides in the morning. Scooping is the same as baling a boat.