scud

scud · adjective, verb, noun¹

1. Middle Dutch · derived fromschudden“to shake”
2. Middle English · derived fromscut“rabbit, rabbit's tail”
3. English todayscud

First attested in 1530, of unknown origin but perhaps from Middle English scut (“rabbit, rabbit's tail”) or from Middle Dutch schudden (“to shake”), ultimately of Scandinavian origin.

Scud · proper noun²

The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies.

Words from the same roots