scupper
pronunciation
How to pronounce scupper in British English:
UK [ˈskʌpə(r)]
How to pronounce scupper in American English:
US [ˈskʌpɚ]
-
- Noun:
- drain that allows water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard
-
- Verb:
- wait in hiding to attack
- put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position
Word Origin
- scupper (n.)
- "opening in a ship's side at deck level to let the water flow out," early 15c., perhaps from Old French escopir "to spit out," or related to Dutch schop "shovel," or from Middle English scope "scoop" (see scoop (n.)).
Example
- 1. The taliban had threatened to scupper it , and failed .
- 2. Such worries , however , are unlikely to scupper the deal .
- 3. This could scupper kohlberg kravis roberts 's hopes of following blackstone to the stockmarket .
- 4. The affair could scupper the campaign to defang the fcpa .
- 5. That , and palestinian and arab reaction , could scupper hopes of progress towards peace .