Scath (skath; 277), n. [Icel. skaði; akin to Dan. skade, Sw. skada, AS. sceaða, scaða, foe, injurer, OS. skaðo, D. schade, harm, injury, OHG. scade, G. schade, schaden; cf. Gr. 'askhqh`s unharmed. Cf. Scathe, v.]
Harm; damage; injury; hurt; waste; misfortune. [Written also scathe.]
But she was somedeal deaf, and that was skathe.
Chaucer.
Great mercy, sure, for to enlarge a thrall,
Whose freedom shall thee turn to greatest scath.
Spenser.
Wherein Rome hath done you any scath,
Let him make treble satisfaction.
Shak.
© Webster 1913
Scathe (skA&thlig;; 277), Scath (skath; 277) , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scathed (skA&thlig;d or skatht); p. pr. & vb. n. Scathing (skA&thlig;"ing or skath"-).] [Icel. skaða; akin to AS. sceaðan, sceððan, Dan. skade, Sw. skada, D. & G. schaden, OHG. scadOn, Goth. skaþjan.]
To do harm to; to injure; to damage; to waste; to destroy.
As when heaven's fire
Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines.
Milton.
Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul.
W. Irving.
© Webster 1913