SCRABBLE. A badly written log. This term is used by the translators of the Bible at David's feigned madness, when he "scrabbled on the doors of the gate."
SCRABER. The puffinet, Colymbus grille. (See [Greenland Dove].)
SCRAPER [from the Anglo-Saxon screope]. A small triangular iron instrument, having two or three sharp edges. It is used to scrape the ship's side or decks after caulking, or to clean the top-masts, &c. This is usually followed by a varnish of turpentine, or a mixture of tar and oil, to protect the wood from the weather. Also, metaphorically, a cocked hat, whether shipped fore-and-aft or worn athwart-ships.
SCRATCH-RACE. A boat-race where the crews are drawn by lot.
SCRAWL. The young of the dog-crab, or a poor sort of crab itself.
SCREEN-BERTH. Pieces of canvas temporarily hung round a berth, for warmth and privacy. (See [Berth].)
SCREW-DOCK. See [Gridiron].
SCREW-GAMMONING for the Bowsprit. A chain or plate fastened by a screw, to secure a vessel's bowsprit to the stem-head, allowing for the tricing up of the bowsprit when required.
SCREW-PROPELLER. A valuable substitute for the cumbersome paddle-wheels as a motive-power for steam-vessels: the Archimedean screw plying under water, and hidden by the counter, communicates motion in the direction of its axis to a vessel, by working against the resisting medium of water. (See [Twin-screw].)
SCREWS. Powerful machines for lifting large bodies. (See [Bed], [Barrel], and [Jack Screws].)