scum

Definition

A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).

Etymology

From Middle English scum, scome, skum, skome, scumme, from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch schūme (“foam”), from Old Dutch *scūm, from Frankish *skūm, from Proto-Germanic *skūmaz (“froth, foam”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”). Cognate with Dutch schuim (“foam”), West Frisian skuum, German Schaum (“foam”), Danish and Swedish skum (“foam”). Compare also French écume (“scum”), Italian schiuma (“foam”), Saterland Frisian Skuum, Sicilian scuma (“foam”), Walloon schome (“scum, foam”), Lithuanian šamas (“catfish”) and skanus (“tasty”) from the same Germanic source. Related to skim.

Example Sentences

• "During smelting, scum rises to the surface and is then removed by the smelter."
• "These organisms form scum in large quantities."
• "Horse, who was always talking about facts, said, “Man, that can't be scum, ’cause scum is white.”"