The practice of the MED is to regard sch as an alternate spelling of sh when it represents [š] and to normalize it as sh, both in headwords and in form sections. There are, however, some instances in which initial sch may represent something other than [š]. For example: (a) When it derives from L initial sch, ult. Gr. sch ([sx]), it prob. represents [sk]. Exx. are: schedule, var. of scedule n.; schole, var. of scọ̄le n.(2) (and by analogy schole, var. of scọ̄len v.); and scholer, var. of scō̆lē̆re n. (b) When it derives from MDu. or MLG initial sch ([sx]), it prob. represents [sk]. Exx. are: schommen, var. of scǒmen v.; schop and schoupes, var. and pl. of scọ̄pe n.(2); schotsem, var. of scot-sēm(e n.; and schoure and schurd, var. and p. of scǒuren v.(2); and perh. also schaltre(u)s, pl. of shaltrẹ̄ n., because of the frequency of scal- forms and the presence of skal- forms. Corroboration that MDu. and prob. MLG sch was heard as [sk] in ME can be found in scoftling n., scọ̄le n.(3), scǒme n., scot-sọ̄m n., skelfe n., and skipper(e n.(1). On the other hand, dialect variation at least in MLG (as reflected in modern LG dialects) may account for ME exx. with initial sh only, indicating that MLG (and perh. MDu.) sch was also heard as [š]: e.g., shē̆lt-bēm n., shī̆f n., shō̆deren v., shōre n.(3), shrimpen v., and shūr n. Both [sk] and [š] pronunciations are prob. present in scot-nail n., shrimpe n., and shrubben v., and perh. also shot-bō̆rd n. (c) When in Northern texts it derives from ON initial sk, it may represent [sk]. Some exx. are: schatel and schathil, vars. of scā̆thel adj., reinforced by the alliteration [see quot.: Wars Alex.2992]; schil, var. of skil n.; schilwisnes, var. of skil-wīsnes n.; schope, var. of scōpen v.(2); and the place names with sch- s.v. scā̆rre n.(2), scarth(e n., and scough n. (d) When it is an alternate spelling of initial ch in words derived from OE c, it may represent [č]. Some exx. are: schalk, var. of chalk n.; schapman, var. of chap-man n.; schep, var. of chēp n.; and schin, var. of chine n.(1). (e) When it derives from OF initial ch, it may represent [č]. Some exx. are: schamelle, var. of camē̆l n.; schano(u)n, vars. of canǒun n.(2); schalis, var. of chalice n.; schardge, var. of charǧe n.; schystyn, var. of chesteine n.; schoppyn, var. of choppen v.(1); schalmẹ̄, var. of shalemīe n.; and schalmas, var. of schalmūse n. In these words, however, sch may represent its usual [š] and simply reflect the OF shift of [č] to [š] in the course of the 13th cent., though [č] was probably retained longer in AF than in CF. A parallel situation prob. exists when sch derives from OF initial esch by shortening. Some exx. are: scharled, scharlet(te, vars. of scarlē̆t n.; scharmus, var. of scarmuch(e n.; schars, var. of scā̆rs(e adj.; schorn(e, schoren, vars. of scō̆rn n.; and schourge, schurge, schorge, vars. of scǒurǧe n.; cp. also schap(e, vars. of scā̆pen v.(1), and scheuen, var. of sheuen v.(2). Occas. in Northern texts sch may even derive from a var. of OF esch in esc (often from ONF) and thus represent [sk]; see, e.g., schapilen, var. of scapelen v. (f) In misc. exx.: schalla celi, var. of scāla cēli n. (from L); scharpelles, pl. of scarpelle n. (from L); schoffer and schoffing, vars. respectively of scoffer n. and scoffing ger. (prob. from OFris.); scheutel, var. of scutel n. (OE from L); scheo, scheu, scho, schoue, etc., vars. of shẹ̄ pron. (OE); and schan, var. of skēne n. (from Celt.); etc. For these and other instances in which initial sch may represent something other than [š], the sch- spelling has been retained in the form sections. In addition, when a word is spelled only with sch- and the phonological status of the cluster is unclear, the headword itself has been spelled with sch-.