scale

SCALE, noun [Latin id. If the sense is to strip, it coincides with the Gr. to spoil.] 1. The dish of a balance; and hence, the balance itself, or whole instrument; as, to turn the scale Long time in even scale the battle hung. But in general, we use the plural, scales, for the whole instrument. The scales are turn'd; her kindness weights no more now than my vows. 2. The sign of the balance or Libra, in the zodiac. 3. The small shell or crust which composes a part of the covering of a fish; and hence, any thin layer or leaf exfoliated or separated; a thin lamin; as scales of iron or of bone. The scales of fish consist of alternate layers of membrane and phosphate of lime. The scales of serpents are composed of a horny membrane, without the calcarious phosphate. 4. A ladder; series of steps; means of ascending. [Latin scala.] 5. The art of storming a place by mounting the wall on ladders; an escalade, or scalade. 6. A mathematical instrument of wood or metal, on which are marked line and figures for the purpose of measuring distances, extent or proportions; as a plain scale; a diagonal scale 7. Regular gradation; a series rising by steps or degrees like those of a ladder. Thus we speak of the scale of being, in which man occupies a higher rank than brutes, and angels a higher rank than man. 8. Any instrument, figure or scheme, graduated for the purpose of measuring extent or proportions as a map drawn by a scale of half an inch to a league. 9. In music, a gamut; a diagram; or a series of lines and spaces rising one above another, on which notes are placed; or a scale consists of the regular gradations of sounds. A scale may be limited to an octave, called by the Greeks a tetrachord, or it may extend to the compass of any voice or instrument. 10. Any thing graduated or marked with degrees at equal distances. SCALE, verb transitive 1. To climb, as by a ladder; to ascend by steps; and applied to the walls of a fortified place, to mount in assault or storm. Oft have I scal'd the craggy oak. 2. [from scale a balance.] To measure; to compare; to weight. 3. [from scale the covering of a fish.] to strip or clear of scales; as, to scale a fish. 4. To take off in thin lamins or scales. 5. To pare off a surface. If all the mountains were scaled, and the earth made even - 6. In the north of England, to spread, as manure or loose substances; also, to disperse; to waste. 7. In gunnery, to clean the inside of a cannon by the explosion of a small quantity of powder. SCALE, verb intransitive To separate and come off in thin layers or lamins. The old shells of the lobster scale off.