scald

present singular third person scalds · participle present scalding · participle past scalded · past scalded

1. To burn with hot liquid.

   to scald the hand

   3 more examples

   Mine own tears / Do scald like molten lead.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals), page vii, line 48

   Here the blue flames of scalding brimstone fall.

   1656, Abraham Cowley, Davideis

   The fireman was scalded by steam, but he did not fare so badly as the enemy pilot, whose dead body was found on a bank about 100 yd. away from the train.

   1943 March and April, “Notes and News: Southern Locomotive Destroys Raider”, in Railway Magazine, page 119

2. cookingTo heat almost to boiling.

   Scald the milk until little bubbles form.

plural scalds

1. A burn, or injury to the skin or flesh, by hot liquid or steam.
2. A paste, made by mixing flour with hot or boiling water (causing starches in it to gelatinize and hold more water) and allowing that mixture to sit and cool, which is added to bread dough to produce a softer bread that takes longer to stale.

   […] stir in the flour by hand, and afterwards add the boiling water, and stir vigorously as already described for Virgin barm. The scald should not be so stiff as for Virgin, and should taste sweet when newly made.

   1911, William Jago, William C. Jago, The Technology of Bread-making: Including the Chemistry and Analytical and Practical Testing of Wheat, Flour, and Other Materials Employed in Bread-making and Confectionery, page 253

   1 more example

   THE NIGHT BEFORE: MIX THE LEAVEN AND PREPARE THE SCALD. [...] mix the rye starter with the whole rye flour and room temperature water. Cover with a lid and let rest overnight, or 8 to 10 hours. Make the scald[:] In a 1-pint deli container (or similar container), combine the dark rye flour and boiling water and mix thoroughly until there is no dry flour. [...] let rest overnight […]

   2022 August 30, Tara Jensen, Flour Power: The Practice and Pursuit of Baking Sourdough Bread, Clarkson Potter, →ISBN, page 214

3. AppalachiaPoor or bad land.

1. obsoleteuncountableScaliness; a scabby skin disease.

   Her craftie head was altogether bald, / And as in hate of honorable eld, / Was ouergrowne with scurfe and filthy scald[…].

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   1 more example

   Some heale Horses, some cure men, some the plague, some the scald [translating teigne], some the cough, some one kinde of scab, and some another[…].

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

comparative more scald · superlative most scald

1. obsoleteAffected with the scab; scabby.

   and let us knog our / prains together to be revenge on this same scald, scurvy, / cogging companion,

   1599, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, act III, scene i, line 110

   Synonyms: scalled, roynish

2. obsoletePaltry; worthless.

   Saucy lictors / Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers / Ballad us out o' tune.

   1598, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra, act V, scene ii, line 215

   1 more example

   Would it not grieue a King to be so abuſ’d? And haue a thouſand horſmen tane away? And which is worſe to haue his Diadem Sought for by ſuch ſcalde knaues as loue him not?

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii

   Synonyms: contemptible

plural scalds

1. alternativeAlternative form of skald.

   The fire was spreading rapidly through all parts of the castle, when Ulrica, who had first kindled it, appeared on a turret, in the guise of one of the ancient furies, yelling forth a war-song, such as was of yore chaunted on the field of battle by the scalds of the yet heathen Saxons.

   1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter I, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 28