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n. 1. Nautical An opening in the side of a ship at deck level to allow water to run off. 2. An opening for draining off water, as from a floor or the roof of a building. [Middle English scoper- (in scopernail, nail for attaching leather under a scupper to prevent dirty water from soiling the hull), probably from scopen, to scoop, from scope, a scoop; see SCOOP.] |
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