Michael Dirda

In truth, my Anglophilia is fundamentally bookish: I yearn for one of those country house libraries, lined on three walls with mahogany bookshelves, their serried splendor interrupted only by enough space to display, above the fireplace, a pair of crossed swords or sculling oars and perhaps a portrait of some great English worthy.

American Critic

Scull as a boat refers to a sport and leisure activity on water.

Water sports

Specifically, 'scull' indicates a smaller, slender boat compared to other rowboats.

Boat size

'Scull' can refer to boats for one or two rowers, whereas 'shell' is for larger crews.

Crew variations

Sculling as a verb involves a specific technique using one oar at the boat's stern.

Stern action

Sculling may imply a more leisurely pace than rowing which is often competitive.

Leisure connotation

A scull is one oar, but usually the term refers to two oars used together.

Single oar

When talking about the equipment, 'scull' refers specifically to the type used for sculling.

Equipment term

 if you don't know what I'm talking about let us know next time one of us are in the tent and we'll show it to you on the mini sculls that we have there you look at a zebras skull and you'll see the