scum

plural scums · alternative obsolete skum

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

   During smelting, scum rises to the surface and is then removed by the smelter.

   Synonyms: dross, impurity, impurities, cinder, scoriae, slag

2. uncountableA greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds

   These organisms form scum in large quantities.

3. countableuncountableThe topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank.
4. USslanguncountableSemen.First known use 1960s

   Horse, who was always talking about facts, said, “Man, that can't be scum, ’cause scum is white.”

   1965, Claude Brown, Manchild in the Promised Land, New York: New American Library, →OCLC, page 80

   Synonyms: baby batter, baby gravy, balljuice, boy juice, cock juice, cock snot, come, cream

5. countablederogatoryslanguncountableA reprehensible person or persons.

   People who sell used-up pens are scum, just total low-lives.

   Synonyms: bastard, assbag, assbreath, assbucket, asschunk, asscunt, assface, assfag

present singular third person scums · participle present scumming · participle past scummed · past scummed · alternative obsolete skum

1. To remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.).
2. To remove (something) as scum.

   Some scumd the drosse, that from the metall came; / Some stird the molten owre with ladles great[…].

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

3. To become covered with scum.

   Take the smallest Cucumbers you can get, and as free from Spots as possible, put them into a strong Salt and Water for nine or ten Days, or 'till they are quite Yellow, and stir them twice a Day at least, or they will scum over, and grow soft

   1769, Elizabeth Raffald, The Experienced English House-keeper, pages 321–322

4. obsoleteTo scour (the land, sea, etc.).

   Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates.

   1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC

   1 more example

   SOo by Merlyns aduys ther were sente fore rydars to skumme the Countreye / & they mette with the fore rydars of the north / and made hem to telle whiche wey the hooste cam / and thenne they told it to Arthur / and by kyng Ban and Bors counceill they lete brenne and destroye alle the contrey afore them there they shold ryde

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book I

5. obsoleteTo gather together, as scum.

   A great majority of the members are scummed together from the Jacobinical dregs of former periods of the revolution.

   1815, Rudolf Ackerman, Frederic Shoberl, The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics

6. informalvideo gamesTo startscum or savescum.

1. abbreviationacronymhistoricalAcronym of Society for Cutting Up Men.

   The most extreme position in the late 1960s came from SCUM, the Society for Cutting Up Men, whose manifesto began, […].

   1991, Timothy Miller, The hippies and American values, University of Tennessee Press, →ISBN, page 67