scull

Everyday

1. One of a pair of oars that one rower uses, one in each hand. tree →
2. A light, narrow racing boat rowed with sculls. tree →
3. (verb) To row a boat using a pair of sculls, or using one oar at the back of the boat moved from side to side. tree →
4. (verb, Australia, NZ, informal) To drink a whole drink very quickly in one go (this is for grown-ups at parties). tree →

In the lessons

In The Wind in the Willows, Ratty sculls his little boat on the river and teaches Mole; when Mole grabs the sculls to show off, he turns the boat over. In sport, single sculls and double sculls are Olympic rowing races. Phrase: «scull a boat», «single sculls».

Examples

• Ratty sculled gently up the river. tree →
• Mole snatched the sculls and fell in the water. tree →
• She won the single sculls race at the regatta. tree →
• Hold one scull in each hand and pull together. tree →
• The fisherman sculled with one oar at the back of the boat. tree →
• You need practice to scull in a straight line. tree →

Note

Scull sounds exactly like skull (the bones of the head) — homophones with different meanings. A scull is a small oar; a sculler is the rower.