scorpioldal

[Eng. scorpioid; al.] The same as SCORPIOID (q. v.). scor-pi-on, *scor-pi-oun, s . [French scorpion, from Lat. scorpionem , acc us. of scorpio a scorpion: Gr. skorpios =a scorpion, a prickly sea-fish, a prickly plant; Sp.escorpion; Ital. scorpione .] I. Ord . Lang .: In the same sense as II. 4. II. Technically : 1. Astron .: [SCORPIO, 2. (2).] 2. Antiq : A military engine formerly used, chiefly in the defense of a castle or town. It resembled the balista in form, consisting of two beams bound together by ropes, from the middle of which rose a third beam, called the stylus, so disposed as to be pulled up and let down at pleasure. On the top of this were fastened iron hooks, whereon a sling of iron or hemp was hung for throwing stones. 3. Script .: A painful scourge; a kind of whip armed with points like a scorpion's tail. "My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions ."-1 Kings xii. 11. 4. Zoology : Any individual of the family Scorpion ides (q. v.). The European species are three or four inches long, and confined to the southern Scotch-argus scor-pi-on-i-dēs, s. pl. [Latin scorpio, gen it. scorpion (is); masc. or fem. pl. suff. -ides.] [SCOR PIONES.]