Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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“What is the difference between rowing and sculling?
“In rowing, each rower uses one oar with both hands. In sculling, each sculler uses two oars, one in each hand. Rowing is also known as sweep rowing and the oars as ‘sweep oars’. The oars used in sculling are also known as ‘sculls’. Please see our Rowing Guide (or a dictionary) for more.”
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fares 155X : for a wherry man et al http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/boatfare.html
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Sculling refers to the use of oars to propel a boat or other watercraft, but the word is used in a number of ways:
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sculler, n [scull]
3entries for Mr P
1. One who propels a boat by means of a scull or a pair of sculls; one skilled in the management of a sculling-boat.
1660 PEPYS Diary 2 Nov., I was told the Queen was a-coming; so I got a sculler for sixpence to carry me thither and back again.4. attrib. and Comb., as sculler-boat, a sculling-boat; sculler-man, one who plies a sculling-boat for hire. Obs.
1663 PEPYS Diary 1 May, Going thither..I met a boy in a sculler-boat.
scull, n.1[Of obscure origin.
Some would identify it with SKULL bowl, goblet, supposing that the name refers to the hollowed form of the blade; but this seems very improbable.]1. A kind of oar. a. An oar used to propel a boat by working it from side to side over the stern of the boat, reversing the blade at each turn. Also in Comb., as scull-hole = sculling-hole s.v. SCULLING vbl. n. b. b. An oar, shorter and lighter than a ‘rowing’ oar, so that a pair can be operated at once by one person, who sits midway between the sides of the boat.
1345….1674 PETTY Disc. R. Soc. 56 Suppose a Paralellipipedon-Boat or Vessel, of breadth fit for a pair of Skulls..and of length sufficient for 9 such Skulls or Oars.
2. A boat propelled with a scull or a pair of sculls; a sculling-boat. Obs.
1611 COTGR., Napelette, a small skiffe, scull, or cocke-boat. 1661 PEPYS Diary 3 Dec., Thence by water..being carried by him in oares that the other day rowed in a scull faster than my oares to the Towre.
also: A scullion. Also Comb. scull-boy.also a name for gull bird
Not to be confused with scullery [maid]
1. The department of a household concerned with the care of the plates, dishes, and kitchen utensils. Also the room or rooms in which the work of this department is carried on. Obs. exc. Hist.also not to be confused Scullion
A domestic servant of the lowest rank in a household who performed the menial offices of the kitchen; hence, a person of the lowest order, esp. as an abusive epithet. Now only arch.