scupper

UK: /ˈskʌpə^r/ US: /ˈskʌpɚ/ ,(skup′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scup•per¹ /ˈskʌpɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms an opening at the edge of a ship's deck that allows water to drain away.
2. Building any opening in the side of a building for draining off rainwater.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scup•per¹  (skup′ər), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a drain at the edge of a deck exposed to the weather, for allowing accumulated water to drain away into the sea or into the bilges. Cf. freeing port. 
2. Building a drain, closed by one or two flaps, for allowing water from the sprinkler system of a factory or the like to run off a floor of the building to the exterior.
3. Building any opening in the side of a building, as in a parapet, for draining off rain water.

• earlier skoper. See scoop, -er¹ 1475–85

scup•per²  (skup′ər), v.t. [Brit.]

1. Military to overwhelm;
   surprise and destroy, disable, or massacre.
2. Military, Informal Terms [Informal.] to prevent from happening or succeeding;
   ruin;
   wreck.

• origin, originally uncertain 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scupper / ˈskʌpə/ noun

1. a drain or spout allowing water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard

Etymology: 15th Century skopper, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to scoop

scupper / ˈskʌpə/ verb (transitive)

1. to overwhelm, ruin, or disable
2. to sink (one's ship) deliberately

Etymology: 19th Century: of unknown origin