scum

scum
scum early 14c. (implied in scummer "shallow ladle for removing scum"), from M.Du. schume "foam, froth," from P.Gmc. *skuma- (Cf. O.N. skum, O.H.G. scum, Ger. Schaum "foam, froth"), perhaps from PIE root * (s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (see HIDE (Cf. hide) (n.1)). Sense deteriorated from "thin layer atop liquid" to "film of dirt," then just "dirt." Meaning "lowest class of humanity" is 1580s; scum of the Earth is from 1712. Adopted in Romanic, Cf. O.Fr. escume, Mod.Fr. écume, Sp. escuma, It. schiuma.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Scum — is: * A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially water or molten metal) * A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds * The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or… …   Wikipedia

  • Scum — Студийный альбом Napalm Death Дата выпуска июль 1987 Жанр грайндкор …   Википедия

  • scum — [skum] n. [ME < MDu schum, akin to Ger schaum, foam, scum, prob. < IE base * (s)keu , to cover > SKY] 1. a thin layer of impurities which forms on the top of liquids or bodies of water, often as the result of boiling or fermentation 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • Scum — (sk[u^]m), n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. skum, Icel. sk[=u]m, LG. schum, D. schuim, OHG. sc[=u]m, G. schaum; probably from a root meaning, to cover. [root]158. Cf. {Hide} skin, {Meerschaum}, {Skim}, v., {Sky}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scum — Scum, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scummed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scumming}.] 1. To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim. [1913 Webster] You that scum the molten lead. Dryden & Lee. [1913 Webster] 2. To sweep or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scum — Scum, v. i. To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively. [1913 Webster] Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over. A. K. H. Boyd. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scum — (engl. Abschaum) steht für: den früheren Namen der Band Amon Amarth Scum (Band), eine norwegische Hardcore Punk/Black Metal Band Scum (Album), ein Album von Napalm Death Mastic Scum, eine österreichische Metalcore/Grindcore Band Society for… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • scum — [skʌm] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Middle Dutch; Origin: schum] 1.) [U] an unpleasant dirty substance that forms on the surface of water ▪ a pond covered with green scum 2.) [plural] informal nasty, unpleasant people ▪ Scum like that should be locked… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • scum — [ skʌm ] noun uncount 1. ) OFFENSIVE an insulting word for someone you think is very unpleasant: The people who do these terrible things are scum. 2. ) a layer of a dirty or unpleasant substance that forms on the surface of a liquid: A thick… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • scum — [n1] superficial impurities, dirt algae, crust, dross, film, froth, residue, scruff, spume, waste; concept 260 Ant. cleanliness scum [n2] people who are bad, despicable curs*, dregs, lowest, mass, mob, proletariat, rabble, riffraff, rubbish*,… …   New thesaurus

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