scun1 v [phonetics unavailable]. Cp OED con, conne, cun v2 'to direct the steering of (a ship)' (1626-), and cond, cund 2, 3; DC Nfld (1918-) for sense 1.
1 To direct, or conn, a sealing vessel through the ice-floes.
1897 J A Folklore x, 208 [Scun 'er through the ice floes ed emend] used in the peculiar sense of guiding a vessel through the ice on a sealing voyage. It is almost equivalent to the nautical term to con... But [scun 'er] is limited in its application to steering a vessel through the ice. 1918 GRENFELL 76 [They] go up ... in the fore-barrel to 'scun' the ship—that is, to find the way or leads through the ice. 1924 ENGLAND 239-40 The Ranger seemed to have discovered the huge herd afar, about the same time we did... We beat her to a rift that fortune opened in the barrier. . . 'Scun 'er up to 'em, Jacob!' the Old Man shouted from the bridge. 'How them bear?' 'Two p'ints on de starburd bow!' 1933 GREENE 143 A laughing shout comes from a head leaning over the barrel of the foremast—and this is followed by a hail from its occupant to the deck below—for Ben to fetch you up the mainmast 'to help scun' the ship! 1937 DEVINE 43 To scun a sealing steamer is to direct her course by observation from the crow's nest or barrel at the masthead, where the best leads through the ice are picked out and signalled to the bridge. 1972 BROWN 136 All the master watches are gone, so in the mornin' ye'll have to go to the barrel to scun her through the ice.
2 To keep a look-out for fish, seals, etc.
1972 MOWAT 41 'Scunnin' for whales?' He lowered the glass and gave me his slow smile.
