scale1
• noun 1 each of the small overlapping plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles. 2 a thick dry flake of skin. 3 a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc. by the evaporation of water containing lime. 4 tartar formed on teeth. • verb 1 remove scale or scales from. 2 often as noun scaling (especially of the skin) form or flake off in scales. — PHRASES the scales fall from someone’s eyes someone is no longer deceived. with biblical reference to Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9. — ORIGIN Old French escale.
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