Meanings
proper noun
- A body of sheltered water between islands in the Orkney Islands council area, Scotland.
Despite the line proving to be a useful strategic route for men and supplies to the British naval fleets stationed at Scapa Flow in both world wars, the Duke's legacy looked to have passed into history when it was listed for closure in the infamous Beeching report.
2021 October 20, Paul Stephen, “Leisure and pleasure on the Far North Line”, in RAIL, number 942, page 48
Origin
- Old NorseSkalpaflói“bay of the long isthmus”
- EnglishScapa Flow
From Old Norse Skalpaflói (“bay of the long isthmus”).
More words from Old Norse
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
Scapa Flow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Scapa%20Flow
MLA
“Scapa Flow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Scapa%20Flow. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Scapa Flow,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Scapa%20Flow.
Source: Scapa Flow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.