A warship; a light and fast craft, similar to those used by the Vikings. One bequeathed to Aethelred the Unready had 64 oars. In 1008 he ordered scegths to be built 'all over England'. [< OldEngl. skeid = a warship] -
Cf. Scegthman
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.