scape
The cry of the snipe when flushed.
Noun biology, botany
- A leafless stalk growing directly out of a root, bulb, or subterranean structure.
- The basal segment of an insect's antenna (i.e. the part closest to the body).
- The basal part, more specifically known as the oviscape, of the ovipositor of an insect.
- The shaft of a column.
- The apophyge of a shaft.
Origin
From Latin scāpus, from Doric Greek σκᾶπος (skâpos). Doublet of native English shaft.
Forms
Derived
Noun archaic
- Escape.
- I spake of most disastrous chances, […] Of hairbreadth scapes in the imminent, deadly breach. - c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William...
- A means of escape; evasion.
- A freak; a slip; a fault; an escapade.
- Not pardoning so much as the scapes of error and ignorance. - 1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons] […], →OCLC:
- A loose act of vice or lewdness.
- though I am not bookish, yyet I can read waiting-gentlewoman in the 'scape - c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First...
Origin
From Middle English scapen (whence also atscapen and ofscapen (“to escape”)), formed by aphesis from escapen, ascapen (“to escape”). Compare also Old French scapper, a variant of Old French eschaper, formed via similar process. Doublet of escape and scarper.
Forms
Derived
atscape scape-animal scape-bird scapegoat scapegrace scapethrift scape-wheel
Noun Entry 3
- The cry of the snipe when flushed.
- The snipe itself.
Origin
Probably imitative.
Forms
Verb
- To escape (someone or something).
- No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace / As I have seen in one autumnal face. / Young beauties force our love, and that's a rape, / This doth but counsel, yet you cannot scape. - c. 1600, John Donne, Elegy IX: The...
- He (to beguile the ſimple) makes no bone / To ſvvear by God (for he beleeues ther's none); / His Svvord's his Title; and vvho ſcapes the ſame, / Shall haue a Piſtol, or a Poyſonie dram: […] - 1608, [Guillaume de...
- Hee will provide you keyes, and locks, to spie, / And scape spies, to good ends - a. 1631 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “(please specify the title)”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles]...