scald (3), skald

[Icel. skáld a poet.] An old Norse poet, whose aim was to celebrate the achievements of distinguished men, and to recite and sing their compositions on public occasions. They corresponded to the Bards of the Celts and Britons. Few complete Scaldic poems remain, but a number of fragments have been preserved. "Or listened all, in grim delight, While scalds yelled out the joys of fight." Scott: Marmion, vi. (Introd.) *scald, adj . [For scalled =affected with scall (q. v.).) Paltry, mean, sorry, scurvy. "Would it not grieve a king to have his diadem Sought for by such scald knaves as love him not?" Marlowe : 1 Tamburlaine , ii. 2. IMG:content-0979.png:[blocks in formation] scale (4) One of the side plates of iron or bra which form the main portion of a pocket-knito handle, and to which the sides of ivory, bone, wood, ., are riveted. II. Technically : 1. Botany ( pl . ): (1) Flat, usually more or le circular plates of cellular ti ue, attached generally by the center with cells radiating from it, and the margins toothed or fringed. They are highly developed stellate or pluriserial hairs. Found on the stems and the lower part of the leaf-stalks of many ferns, on some Rhododendra, on Bromeliaceae, . Used also of the bracts of a catkin, the palese or chaff of the receptacle in a composite plant, the minute hypogynous squamule in the glumes of a gra , the imperfectly-developed leaves surrounding the more delicate parts in a bud. (2) Certain scale-like proce es around the throat of a gamopetalous corolla. Sometimes they are abortive stamens. 2. Ichthy.: Distinct horny elements developed in grooves or pockets of the skin, like hair, nails, or feathers. Aga iz (1807-73) founded his cla ification of Fishes on the character of their scales. [CTENOID, CYCLOID, GANOID, PLACOID. See also SPAROID.] 3. Zoology : Modifications of the epidermis in various animals, specifically in serpents, lizards, . [SCUTE, SHIELD, LEPIDOPTERA.]