The word scabbard has been sometimes used in a figurative sense to distinguish those persons who have obtained rank and promotion in the army without seeing much hard service, from those who have fought their way through all the obstacles of superior interest, &c. Hence the favourite expression of the late sir William Erskine—Some rise by the scabbard, and some by the sword! Which means more than we are at liberty to illustrate, but which may be easily applied to cases in point.
SCALADE, from the French 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, a right line divided into equal parts, representing miles, fathoms, paces, feet, inches, &c. used in making plans upon paper; giving each line its true length, &c. See also [Balance], [Escalade], &c.
SCALENE, Fr. A term used in geometry to express a triangle whose three sides and three angles are unequal to one another.
SCALING-ladder. See [Ladders].
SCALLOP, any segment of a circle.
To SCALP. To deprive the scull of its integuments. A barbarous custom in practice amongst the Indian warriors, of taking off the tops of the scalps of the enemies sculls with their hair on. They preserve them as trophies of their victories, and are rewarded by their chiefs, according to the number they bring in.
To SCAMPER, (Escamper, Fr.) To run away precipitately.
SCARF, See [Sash].
SCARLET, the national color for the dress of the British. The British artillery, cavalry, and some of the light infantry, are clothed in blue; rifle corps in green; and the cavalry for foreign service in light blue. See [Uniform].