Scupper
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 A drainage hole on the deck of a ship.
- 2 drain that allows water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard wordnet
- 3 A similar opening in a wall or parapet that allows water to drain from a roof.
"I have said that our roof was decidedly Biblical in style; but to make it a dry one, something of a nautical character was added to its architecture, for on either side were scuppers, and it was slightly arched in the centre[.]"
- 1 To thwart or destroy, especially something belonging or pertaining to another. UK, transitive
"The bad media coverage scuppered his chances of being elected."
- 2 put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position wordnet
- 3 wait in hiding to attack wordnet
Example
More examples"I have said that our roof was decidedly Biblical in style; but to make it a dry one, something of a nautical character was added to its architecture, for on either side were scuppers, and it was slightly arched in the centre[.]"
Etymology
Uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English scope (“scoop”) or Dutch schop (“shovel”) + -er; or from Dutch scheppen (“to draw off”).
Of unknown origin; possibly verbized form of Etymology 1, but this is unlikely.
Related phrases
More for "scupper"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.