Chapter Schoolmistress to Scotch Breakfast of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Scone (pron. Skoon). Edward I. removed to London, and placed in Westminster Abbey, the great stone upon which the kings of Scotland were wont to be crowned. This stone is still preserved, and forms the support of Edward the Confessor's chair, which the British monarchs occupy at their coronation. It is said to have been brought from Ireland by Fergus, son of Eric, who led the Dalriads to the shores of Argyllshire. (See Tanist-Stone .)

“Ni fallat fatum, Scoti, quocunque locatum
Invenient labidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.”
Lardner, i. p. 67.
Unless the fates are faithless found
And prophets' voice be vain,
Where'er is placed this stone, e'en there
The Scottish race shall reign.

Score A reckoning; to make a reckoning; so called from the custom of marking off “runs” or “lengths,” in games by the score feet. (See Nurr, Spell, Tally .)

Scornful Dogs will eat dirty Puddings In emergency men will do many things they would scorn to do in easy circumstances. Darius and Alexander will drink dirty water and think it nectar when distressed with thirst. Kings and queens, to make good their escape in times of danger, will put on the most menial disguise. And hungry men will not be over particular as to the food they eat.

“ `All nonsense and pride,' said the laird. ... `Scornful dogs will eat dirty puddings.' ”- Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet, chap. xi.

Scorpion It is said that scorpions have an oil which is a remedy against their stings. The toad also is said to have an antidote to its “venom.”

“ `Tis true, a scorpion's oil is said
To cure the wounds the venom made,
And weapons dressed with salves restore
And heal the hurts they gave before.”
Butler: Hudibras, iii. 2.

Scorpions Whips armed with metal or knotted cords.

“My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”- 1. Kings xii. 11.

Scot The same as Scythian in etymology; the root of both is Sct. The Greeks had no c, and would change t into th, making the root skth, and by adding a phonetic vowel we get Skuth-ai (Scythians), and Skoth- ai (Scoths). The Welsh disliked s at the beginning of a word, and would change it to ys; they would also change c or k to g, and th to d; whence the Welsh root would be Ysgd, and Skuth or Skoth would become ysgod. Once more, the Saxons would cut off the Welsh y, and change the g back again to c, and the d to t, converting the Ysgod to Scot.
   N.B. Before the third century Scotland was called Caledonia or Alban.

Scot-free Tax-free, without payment. (See below.)

Scot and Lot A levy on all subjects according to their ability to pay. Scot means tribute or tax, and lot means allotment or portion allotted. To pay scot and lot, therefore, is to pay the ordinary tributes and also the personal tax allotted to you.

Scots Greys The 2nd Dragoons, the colour of whose horses is grey. (Heavy-armed.)

Scots wha hae Words by Robert Burns, to the music of an old Scotch tune called Hey Tuttie Taittie. The Land o' the Leal is to the same tune.

Scotch The people or language of Scotland.
   Highland Scotch. Scottish Gaelic.
   Lowland Scotch. The English dialect spoken in the lowlands of Scotland.
    Broad Scotch. The official language of Scotland in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Sometimes used in novels and in verse.

Scotch Breakfast (A). A substantial breakfast of sundry sorts of good things to eat and drink. The Scotch are famous for their breakfast-tables and tea-fights. No people in the world are more hospitable.