perscopate

English edit

Etymology edit

From Latin per- ‘throughout’ + scopatus, from scopa ‘bristle’ (classically only found in plural scopae ‘broom, brush’).

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ˈpɜːskəpeɪt/

Verb edit

perscopate (third-person singular simple present perscopates, present participle perscopating, simple past and past participle perscopated)

(archaic) to bristle or horripilate
- 1970, Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander:
  Let us take your cat: now suppose we shave her tail, so that it cannot shall I say perscopate or bristle; suppose we attach a board to her back, so that it cannot arch; suppose we then exhibit a displeasing sight – a sportive dog, for instance.