| sclerotic | adj. | of or pertaining to the morbid hardening of tissue | ||
| sclerotica | n. | the hard posterior surface of the eyeball, the white of the eye | ||
| scoff | v. | to eat voraciously, to devour | ||
| scolopendrid | n. | large centipede | ||
| scone | v. | to hit on the head | slang | |
| scorbutic | adj. | of, related to, or symptomatic of scurvy | ||
| scoriaceous | adj. | of or related to dark frothy volcanic rock | ||
| scotch egg | n. | breaded sausage-wrapped boiled egg which is then baked or deep fried | ||
| scotoma | n. | partial loss of vision or blind spot | ||
| scotophilic | adj. | of or related to that which thrives in darkness | ||
| scrag end | n. | cheap cut of mutton from the neck chiefly used in stew; leftovers; least desirable parts | ||
| scramasax | n. | knife or short sword with a single edge used by the Anglo-Saxons | ||
| scratty | adj. | unkempt, scruffy; scrawny | colloquial | |
| screech | n. | homemade strong drink of Newfoundland similar to moonshine, often flavored with rum | slang | |
| screw | n. | small amount (of a product) wrapped in a twist of paper; such a twist of paper | ||
| scribatiousness | n. | quality of writing excessively | ||
| scrim | n. | thin fabric used in lining upholstery and in theater for backdrops, etc. | ||
| scrimer | n. | fencer, swordsman; fencing master | ||
| scrip | n. | small bag, satchel, wallet (esp. one carried by a beggar or pilgrim) | ||
| scrofula | n. | lymphatic tuberculosis | ||
| scruple | n. | measurement of weight in apothecaries’ system, equal to 20 grains (about 0.13 grams) | ||
| scud | v. | to be driven by the wind | ||
| scullion | n. | menial kitchen servant; base person | ||
| scunner | n. | object of loathing | ||
| scuppernong | n. | muscadine grape variety native to North Carolina; wine made from this grape | ||
| scurf | n. | scales of epidermis that are continually peeling off the skin; any scaly incrustation upon a body | ||
| scurrilous | adj. | characterized by rough, buffoonish language; indecently or coarsely abusive | ||
| scurryfunge | v. | to rush about cleaning one’s house just before company comes over | obsolete | |
| scut | n. | short tail, esp. of a rabbit or deer; (slang) contemptible person | ||
| scutage | n. | fees paid in lieu of military service to a feudal lord | ||
| sebaceous | adj. | fatty; fat-producing | ||
| secateurs | n. | one-handed pruning shears | ||
| sectarian | n. | bigoted supporter of a sect | ||
| secular | adj. | worldly, as opposed to spiritual; of or related to laypeople or civil law, as opposed to clerical or religious; of clergy not belonging to a monastic order | ||
| secundum artem | adv. | according to the standard practice, skillfully | Latin | |
| secundus | adv. | second | ||
| sedevacantist | n. | believer in idea that the Holy See has been vacant since death of Pope Pius XII, due to mainstream Catholic embrace of modernist ideas, epitomized by the Second Vatican Council | ||
| sedulous | adj. | diligent; persistent | ||
| seel | v. | to sew a hawk’s eyes shut for training purposes | ||
| seethe | v. | to boil | obsolete | |
| seiche | n. | sudden perturbation or oscillation of the water surface of a lake or bay | ||
| seidel | n. | large beer mug | ||
| seisin | n. | possession or right of possession of land or chattels | ||
| seity | n. | selfhood | ||
| selachian | adj. | of or related to the subclass Elasmobranchii consisting of sharks, rays, etc.; sharklike | ||
| selcouth | adj. | strange, marvelous, unusual | archaic | |
| selkie | n. | mythological creature of the sea, appearing as a seal in the water, but becoming a human woman upon dry land | ||
| sellsword | n. | mercenary | ||
| selsyn | n. | synchro, coordination of physical device to a monitor or control device by use of electric current | ||
| selvage | n. | finishing of woven material so that the edge will not unravel |
