What does "scull" mean?
A single oar mounted at the stern of a boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward.
Scull
/skʌl/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A single oar mounted at the stern of a boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward.
- Grammar: scull is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: boat, canoe, carry sail, catch a crab.
- Useful contrasts: drift, stall, stop.
- Usage evidence: The afternoon sun was getting low as the Rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood, murmuring poetry-things over to himself, and not paying much attention to Mole.
How to use "scull"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "scull" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "scull" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "scull" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "scull" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "scull" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "boat" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "scull", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A single oar mounted at the stern of a boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward.
- 2 Archaic spelling of skull. alt-of, archaic
"The sculls were so tender, that they generally fell to pieces on being touched. The other bones were stronger. There were some teeth which were judged to be smaller than those of an adult; a scull which on a slight view, appeared to be that of an infant, […]"
- 3 A shoal of fish. obsolete
"Of fish that with their fins and shining scales Glide under the green wave , in sculls"
- 4 The skua gull.
- 5 a racing shell that is propelled by sculls wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 One of a pair of oars handled by a single rower.
- 7 A skull cap. A small bowl-shaped helmet, without visor or bever.
"The scull is a head piece, without visor or bever, resembling a bowl or bason, such as was worn by our cavalry, within twenty or thirty years."
- 8 each of a pair of short oars that are used by a single oarsman wordnet
- 9 A small rowing boat, for one person.
- 10 a long oar that is mounted at the stern of a boat and moved left and right to propel the boat forward wordnet
- 11 A light rowing boat used for racing by one, two, or four rowers, each operating two oars (sculls), one in each hand.
Verb
- 1 To row a boat using a scull or sculls.
"The afternoon sun was getting low as the Rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood, murmuring poetry-things over to himself, and not paying much attention to Mole."
- 2 To drink the entire contents of a drinking vessel without pausing. Australia, New-Zealand, slang
"2005, Jane Egginton, Working and Living Australia, The Sunday Times, Cadogan Guides, UK, page 59, In 1954, Bob Hawke made the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds."
- 3 propel with sculls wordnet
- 4 To skate while keeping both feet in contact with the ground or ice.
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The afternoon sun was getting low as the Rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood, murmuring poetry-things over to himself, and not paying much attention to Mole."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "scull"?
Common synonyms include: boat, canoe, carry sail, catch a crab, circumnavigate, coast.
How do you use "scull" in a sentence?
The afternoon sun was getting low as the Rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood, murmuring poetry-things over to himself, and not paying much attention to Mole.
How do you pronounce "scull"?
Pronounced /skʌl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English sculle (“a type of oar”), of uncertain origin, possibly from North Germanic, from Old Norse skola (“to rinse, wash”).
Etymology 2
See skull. The verb sense may derive from Danish/Norwegian/Swedish skål.
Etymology 3
See school.
Etymology 4
See skua
Etymology 5
From the Middle English surname, used as a nickname and related to skull.