scumber

plural scumbers

1. countableuncountableusuallydog or foxDung; excrement.

   Let’s see, if by your scumber, you are fox!

   1958, Djuna Barnes, The Antiphon

   4 more examples

   […]having no regard of me, and never looking upon me but as the scumber of the world.

   1848, Steinmetz, Andrew, 1816-1877, History of the Jesuits, →OCLC

   A human vulture, God sent thee The world's great scavenger to be. To cleanse it of its scumber;

   1900, Johnstone, Julian E, Songs of Sun and Shadow, →OCLC

   […] the Scumber of the Fox, the Spraints of the Otter[…]

   1660, Howell, James., Lexicon Tetraglotton […]

   Someone shouts something and he turns and shouts back, ‘Just going for a scumber, all right? Back in a moment.

   2012, Collins, B. R, The Broken Road, →OCLC

present singular third person scumbers · participle present scumbering · participle past scumbered · past scumbered

1. To defecate.

   Beware of fire when you ſcumber, Though to ſh-- [shit] fire were a wonder,

   1656, Choyce Drollery

   3 more examples

   But he that gaines the glory here Muſt ſcumber furtheſt, ſhite moſt clear.

   1655, Mennes, John, Sir, 1599-1671, Musarum Deliciae ; and, Wit Restor'd

   […]and old Nick turn me into Bumfodder, if this did not make me ſo hide-bound and coſtive; that for four or five Days I hardly ſcumber'd one poor Butt of Sir-reverance and that too was full as dry and hard, I protest

   1784, Rabelais, Francois., translated by M. Le Du Chat et al., The works of Francis Rabelais. Translated from the French […]

   He’s not to come in the house, though, Natasha. Other than to scumber, I suppose. / What? / To disencumber. His bowels.

   2009, Cooke, Sophie, Under the Mountain, →OCLC

   1. of a dog or fox

      a brace of gray-houndes When they are ledd out of their kennels to ſcumber

      1630, Massinger, Philip, The Picture a Tragae Comaedie […]

      2 more examples

      Some tyme pei han a siknesse bat pei mowe not pisse and byn ilost therbi, and also whan pei mowe not scombire

      Sometimes the hounds have a great sickness that they may not piss, and be lost thereby and also when they may not scumber.

      c. 1410, The Master of Game

      But that their beds were heav'd on high ; They thought some dog under did lie, And meant i' th' chamber (fie, fie, fie,) To scumber.

      1832, Scott, Walter, Woodstock; or, The Cavalier, →OCLC