All we know for sure is that scupper meant "to ambush and massacre" in 19th-century military slang and developed its extended uses of "defeat" and "do in" in the early-mid 20th century.

SCUPPER definition: a drain at the edge of a deck exposed to the weather, for allowing accumulated water to drain away into the sea or into the bilges. See examples of scupper …

Members of these benches chose to try to scupper that agreement and those proposals yesterday. That the fight was scuppered came as little surprise.

scupper verb [T] (SPOIL) to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail:

1. To sink (a ship) deliberately; scuttle. 2. To thwart or ruin: scupper a business deal. 3. Chiefly British To overwhelm or massacre.

A scupper is an opening in the side walls of a vessel or an open-air structure, which allows water to drain instead of pooling within the bulwark or gunwales of a vessel, or within the curbing or …

Definition of scupper. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

A scupper is a drainage opening in a wall or parapet of a building that allows rainwater to drain away. Typically, the scupper is located in the roof of the building and is used to prevent water …

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Nov 11, 2025 · scupper (plural scuppers) (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. …