Scale , v. i. To lead up by
steps; to ascend.
[Obs.]
Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,
That scaled by steps of gold
to heaven-gate,
Looks down with wonder.
Milton.
Scale , v. t. [Cf. It. scalare,
fr. L. scalae, scala. See Scale a ladder.]
To climb by a ladder, or as
if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.
Oft
have I scaled the craggy oak.
Spenser.
Scale , n. [L. scalae, pl., scala
staircase, ladder; akin to scandere to climb. See
Scan; cf. Escalade.]
1. A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending. [Obs.]
2.
Hence, anything graduated, especially
when employed as a measure or
rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals. Specifically: (a) A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See
Gunter's scale.
(b) A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan. (c)
A basis for a numeral
system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc.
(d) (Mus.)
The graduated series of all
the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave; -- called also the gamut. It may be repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic,
Diatonic, Major, and Minor.
3. Gradation; succession
of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a
scale of being.
There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of
studying in right order, all the world is
in confusion.
Milton. 4. Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of
the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of
a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an
inch to a mile.
Scale of chords, a graduated scale on which are
given the lengths of the chords of
arcs from 0° to 90° in a circle of given radius, -- used in measuring given angles and in
plotting angles of given numbers of degrees.
Scale , v. i. 1. To
separate and come off in thin layers or laminæ; as, some sandstone scales
by exposure.
Those that cast their shell are the
lobster and crab; the old
skins are found, but the old
shells never; so it is likely
that they scale off.
Bacon. 2. To separate; to scatter. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Scale (?), v. t. 1. To
strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.
2. To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to
pare off, as
a surface. "If all the
mountains were scaled,
and the earth made even." T. Burnet.
3. To scatter; to spread. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
4. (Gun.) To clean, as the
inside of a
cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder. Totten.
Scale , n. [Cf. AS. scealu, scalu, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal, G. schale, OHG. scala,
Dan. & Sw. skal a shell, Dan. skiæl
a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E.
shale, shell,
and perhaps also to scale of a
balance; but perhaps rather fr. OF. escale, escaile, F.
écaille scale of
a fish, and
écale shell of
beans, pease, eggs, nuts, of German origin, and akin to Goth. skalja, G.
schale. See Shale.]
1. (Anat.)
One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny
pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal
part of the
skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid,
and Ganoid.
Fish that, with their fins and shining scales,
Glide under the green wave.
Milton.
2. Hence, any layer or
leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone,
etc.
3. (Zoöl.)
One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the
wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.
4.
(Zoöl.) A scale insect. (See below.)
5. (Bot.) A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the
like. The name is also
given to the chaff on
the stems of ferns.
6. The thin metallic side plate of
the handle of a pocketknife. See
Illust. of Pocketknife.
7.
An incrustation deposit on the inside of
a vessel in
which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
8. (Metal.) The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4.
Also, a similar coating upon other metals.
Covering scale
(Zoöl.), a hydrophyllium. -- Ganoid scale.
(Zoöl.) See under Ganoid. --
Scale armor
(Mil.), armor made
of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth. -- Scale beetle (Zoöl.),
the tiger beetle. -- Scale carp (Zoöl.), a carp having
normal scales. -- Scale insect (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small hemipterous insects belonging to the family Coccidæ, in which the females, when adult, become more or less scalelike in form. They
are found upon the leaves and twigs of various trees and shrubs, and often do great damage to fruit trees. See Orange scale,under Orange. -- Scale moss (Bot.), any leafy-stemmed moss of the order Hepaticæ; -- so called from the small imbricated scalelike leaves of most of the species. See Hepatica, 2, and Jungermannia.
Scale , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scaled (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Scaling.]
To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary
according to a scale or system.
Scaling his present bearing with his past.
Shak. To scale, or scale down, a debt, wages, etc., to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale. [U.S.]
Scale (skāl), n. [AS. scāle;
perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. skāl balance, dish, akin also to D.
schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. scāla, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E.
scale of a fish. Cf. Scale of a
fish, Skull the brain case.]
1. The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used
figuratively.
Long time in even
scale
The battle hung.
Milton. The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no more
Now than my vows.
Waller. 2. pl.
(Astron.) The sign
or constellation Libra.
Platform scale. See under Platform.
Hear it pronounced