I forgot to add

Posted by Word Camel on February 20, 2002

In Reply to: Scuppered a deal posted by Word Camel on February 20, 2002

: : "He alleges that Microsoft scuppered a 1998 deal with Compaq to produce..."

: : Anyone know what "scuppered" means?

: I looked up scupper in an American dictionary where it explains that a scupper is a nautical term for the holes at the side of a ship that allow the water to run off.

: I have also heard it used to describe destroying a ship - if not by sinking than grounding. "After passengers ceased to visit the aging steam boat, the owners scuppered it."

: So in the sentence you gave, it means that Microsoft deliberately destroyed the deal with Compac. And as it happens, that's completely consistent with Microsoft.

: I suspect the Brits will find this use of scuppered in their dictionaries and it will be in the OED of course.

Scuppering is deliberate.