Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern. By extension, the oars themselves are also often referred to as sculls when used in this manner, and the boat itself may be referred to as a scull.
Two-oared sculling is a form of rowing—both competitive and recreational—in which a boat is propelled by one or more rowers, each of whom operates two oars, one held in the fingers of each hand. This contrasts with the other common method of rowing, sweep rowing, in which each rower may use both hands to operate a single oar on either the port or starboard side of the boat.
Sculling forms one of the two major divisions of crew, or competitive rowing, involving races between small, sculled boats with various numbers of rowers. Generally, one, two, or four rowers crew these shells, which are classified according to the number of rowers that they can hold: singles have one seat, doubles have two seats, and quads have four seats.