scupper

noun

1. Nautical. 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.Compare freeing port.
2. a drain, closed by one or two flaps, for allowing water from the sprinkler system of a factory or the like to run off a floor of the building to the exterior.
3. any opening in the side of a building, as in a parapet, for draining off rain water.

verb (used with object) British.

1. Military. to overwhelm; surprise and destroy, disable, or massacre.
2. Informal. to prevent from happening or succeeding; ruin; wreck.

noun

1. nautical a drain or spout allowing water on the deck of a vessel to flow overboard
2. an opening in the side of a building for draining off water
3. a drain in a factory floor for running off the water from a sprinkler system

verb (tr) British

1. slang to overwhelm, ruin, or disable
2. to sink (one’s ship) deliberately

n.“opening in a ship’s side at deck level to let the water flow out,” early 15c., perhaps from Old French escopir “to spit out,” or related to Dutch schop “shovel,” or from Middle English scope “scoop” (see scoop (n.)).