SCOPE. The riding scope of a vessel's cable should be at least three times the depth of water under her, but it must vary with the amount of wind and nature of the bottom.
SCORE. Twenty; commercially, in the case of certain articles, six score went to the hundred—a usage thus regulated:
"Five score's a hundred of men, money, and pins:
Six score's a hundred of all other things."
Also an angular piece cut out of a solid. Also, an account or reckoning.
SCORE OF A BLOCK, or of a Dead Eye. The groove round which the rope passes.
SCORPIO. The eighth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 22d of October. α Scorpii, Antares; a nautical star.
SCOT, or Shot. Anglo-Saxon sceat. A share of anything; a contribution in fair proportion.
SCOTCHMAN. A piece of stiff hide, or batten of wood, placed over the backstays fore-swifter of the shrouds, &c., so as to secure the standing rigging from being chafed. Perhaps so called from the scotch or notch where the seizing is passed.
SCOTCH MIST. Mizzle, or small soaking rain.
SCOTCH PRIZE. A mistake; worse than no prize, or one liable to hamper the captors with heavy law expenses.