scold

plural scolds · alternative scould · alternative scolde

1. A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.

   Near the pond was the ducking-stool where many a village scold had her tongue temporarily stilled.

   1980, Robert Dougall, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 379

   3 more examples

   A ſclaunderous tunge, a tunge of a ſkolde, Worketh more miſchiefe than can be tolde; That, if I wiſt not to be controlde, Yet ſomwhat to ſay I dare well be bolde,

   c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.

   “Well, I won’t have it, and that’s enough.” She laughed, for her voice had a little been that of the professional scold.

   1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part II, XVIII [Uniform ed., p. 196]

   Consider the contrast with the United States, where deficit scolds dominated Beltway discourse in 2010–2011 but never managed to dictate the terms of political debate […]

   2015 September 14, Paul Krugman, “Labour's dead centre [print version: International New York Times, 15 September 2015, p. 9]”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms: Karen, social justice warrior, wokescold, AWFUL, shrew

present singular third person scolds · participle present scolding · participle past scolded · past scolded

1. ambitransitiveTo rebuke angrily.

   I advise that you refrain from using that kind of language at home, lest your mother scold you.

   2 more examples

   A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her —

   1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

   Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

2. biologyOf birds, to make harsh vocalisations in aggression.
3. Of birds, to make vocalisations that resemble human scolding.

   1 more example

   [T]he merry songsters of the wood now filled the air with their jubilee; the nutcracker began his monotonous clattering, the chaffinches and the wrens sang high in the sky, the blackcock scolded and blustered loudly, the thrush sang his mocking songs and libellous ditties about everybody, but became occasionally a little sentimental and warbled gently and bashfully some tender stanzas.

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 89

4. misconstructionMisconstruction of scald.