scum

Meaning

Noun

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

Synonyms

froth

foam

lather

dregs

spume

trash

slime

scumbag

dross

refuse

skim

film

📽️

crud

dirtbag

bubbles

🫧

sleazeball

slimebag

scuzzball

cream

rubbish

creep

sleaze

slimebucket

slimeball

scuzzbag

riffraff

dirtball

bastard

dick

cinder

vermin

stinker

suds

sap

moss

garbage

🗑️

goo

drip

clutch

dirt

clotted cream

buster

devil

cyst

frog

🐸

frock

curd

clinker

bitch

frig

Translations

Abschaum

écume

escoria

feccia

scoria

απόβρασμα

crasse

escória

Schaum

abschäumen

Arschloch

κάθαρμα

schiuma

schuim

Pronounced as (IPA)

/skʌm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: scum

Cognate with Dutch: schuim

Cognate with Western Frisian: skuum

Cognate with German: Schaum

Cognate with Danish: -

Cognate with Swedish: -

Cognate with French: écume

Cognate with Italian: schiuma

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Skuum

Cognate with Sicilian: scuma

Cognate with Walloon: schome

Cognate with Lithuanian: šamas

In summary

From Middle English scum, scome, skum, skome, scumme, from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch schūme (“foam”), from Old Dutch *scūm, from Frankish *skūm, 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.