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Drain vs Scupper - What's the difference?

drain | scupper |

As nouns the difference between drain and scupper

is that drain is a conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume while scupper is a drainage hole on the deck of a ship.

As verbs the difference between drain and scupper

is that drain is to lose liquid while scupper is thwart or destroy, especially something belonging or pertaining to another; compare {{term|scuttle|lang=en}}.

drain

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-03, volume=101, issue=2, page=114, magazine=(American Scientist)
    • , author=Frank Fish, George Lauder , title= Not Just Going with the Flow , passage=An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex . The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain , as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.}}
  • An access point or conduit for rainwater that drains directly downstream in a (drainage) basin without going through sewers or water treatment in order to prevent or belay floods.
  • Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.
  • (label) An act of urination.
  • (label) The name of one terminal of a field effect transistor (FET).

    • Derived terms

    * circle the drain * down the drain * drain fly

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lose liquid.
    • The clogged sink drained slowly.
  • To flow gradually.
    • The water of low ground drains off.
  • (ergative) To cause liquid to flow out of.
    • Please drain the sink. It's full of dirty water.
  • (ergative) To convert a perennially wet place into a dry one.
    • They had to drain the swampy land before the parking lot could be built.
  • To deplete of energy or resources.
    • The stress of this job is really draining me.
  • To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to exhaust.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent.
  • * Motley
    • But it was not alone that he drained their treasure and hampered their industry.
  • (obsolete) To filter.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh.
  • (pinball) To fall off the bottom of the playfield.
  • * 1990 , Steven A. Schwartz, Compute's Nintendo Secrets
    • When a ball finally drains , it's gulped down by a giant gator beneath the set of flippers.

    Derived terms

    * drainage * drain the lizard (vulgar)

    Anagrams

    *

    scupper

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nautical) A drainage hole on the deck of a ship.
  • (architecture) A similar opening in a wall or parapet that allows water to drain from a roof.
    • Derived terms
    * scupper hose * scupper nail * scupper plug

    Etymology 2

    Of origin.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (British) Thwart or destroy, especially something belonging or pertaining to another; compare scuttle.
    • The bad media coverage scuppered his chances of being elected.
  • * 2002 , Hugo Young, The Guardian (2 Jul):
    • "We can't allow US tantrums to scupper global justice."