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Apr 10, 2012 This week's theme Words of nautical origins This week's words doldrums scupper scuttlebutt bonanza groundswell Enjoy A.Word.A.Day? Here are ways you can support this work: . Upgrade to premium subs. . Send a gift subscription . Become a sponsor . Buy our books . Contribute Thank you! Discuss Feedback RSS/XML A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg scupper PRONUNCIATION: (SKUP-uhr) MEANING: noun: An opening for draining water, as on the side of a ship. verb tr.: 1. To prevent from succeeding. 2. To overwhelm, disable, or destroy. ETYMOLOGY: For noun: From Old French escopir (to spit). Earliest documented use: 1485. For verb: Perhaps from the noun form of the word. Earliest documented use: 1885. USAGE: "Three possible misfortunes could scupper recovery." Inside the Miracle; The Economist (London, UK); Mar 13, 2010. Explore "scupper" in the Visual Thesaurus. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. -William Arthur Ward, college administrator, writer (1921-1994)

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