Scull means to propel a boat through water using oars in a specific way: instead of rowing with one oar on each side, you move two oars (one in each hand) in a coordinated pattern, pushing water backward with each stroke. The oars pivot in devices called oarlocks attached to the boat's sides.

Small racing boats called sculls (also called sculling boats or shells) are designed specifically for this technique. Olympic rowers often compete in sculls, skimming across calm water at remarkable speeds. A single scull has one rower, a double scull has two, and a quad scull has four, with each rower controlling two oars.

The sculling motion is subtler than regular rowing. Your hands pass close together with each stroke, and the oar blades slice into the water at an angle, then twist to push against it. It takes practice to master the rhythm and coordination.

You might also hear people describe the small boat itself as a scull: “She took her scull out on the lake at dawn.” Whether you're talking about the boat or the technique, sculling represents one of the most elegant ways humans have learned to move across water using nothing but their own muscle power.