perscopate

From per- (“throughout, thoroughly”) +‎ + Latin scōpātus, from scōpāre (“sweep”), from scōpa (“broom, bundle of sticks”) (classically only found as plural scōpae). By surface analysis, per- +‎ scop(a) +‎ -ate.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɜːskəpeɪt/

perscopate (third-person singular simple present perscopates, present participle perscopating, simple past and past participle perscopated)

1. (archaic) to bristle or horripilate
   • 1970, Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander:

     Let us take your cat: now suppose we shave her tail, so that it cannot shall I say perscopate or bristle; suppose we attach a board to her back, so that it cannot arch; suppose we then exhibit a displeasing sight – a sportive dog, for instance.