scum

Meaning

Noun

1. A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).
2. A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds
3. The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank.
4. (slang) Semen.
5. (slang) A reprehensible person or persons.

Verb

1. To remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.).
2. To remove (something) as scum.
3. To become covered with scum.
4. (obsolete) To scour (the land, sea, etc.).
5. (obsolete) To gather together, as scum.
6. (informal) To startscum or savescum.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/skʌm/

Etymology

From Middle English scum, scome, skum, skome, scumme, from Middle Dutch schūme (“foam”), from Proto-Germanic *skūmaz (“froth, foam”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”). Cognate with Dutch schuim (“foam”), West Frisian skuum, German Schaum (“foam”), Danish and Swedish skum (“foam”). Compare also French écume (“scum”), Italian schiuma (“foam”), Saterland Frisian Skuum, Sicilian scuma (“foam”), Walloon schome (“scum, foam”), Lithuanian šamas (“catfish”) and skanus (“tasty”) from the same Germanic source. Related to skim.