scum
(noun) a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid
trash, scum
(noun) worthless people
scum
(verb) remove the scum from
Source: WordNet® 3.1
scum (countable and uncountable, plural scums)
(uncountable) A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).
(uncountable) A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds
The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank.
(uncountable, slang, chiefly US) semen
(countable, derogatory, slang) A reprehensible person or persons.
• (layer of impurities): dross, impurities
• (layer of impurities on molten metal): cinder, scoriae, slag
• (person considered reprehensible): bastard
scum (third-person singular simple present scums, present participle scumming, simple past and past participle scummed)
To remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.).
To remove (something) as scum.
To become covered with scum.
(obsolete) To scour (the land, sea etc.).
(obsolete) To gather together, as scum.
(video games, informal) To startscum or savescum.
• CMUs, MCUs, USMC, cums
Source: Wiktionary
Scum, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. & Sw. skum, Icel. sk, LG. schum, D. schuim, OHG. sc, G. schaum; probably from a root meaning, to cover. sq. root158. Cf. Hide skin, Meerschaum, Skim, v., Sky.]
1. The extraneous matter or impurities which rise to the surface of liquids in boiling or fermentation, or which form on the surface by other means; also, the scoria of metals in a molten state; dross. Some to remove the scum it did rise. Spenser.
2. refuse; recrement; anything vile or worthless. The great and innocent are insulted by the scum and refuse of the people. Addison.
Scum, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scumming.]
1. To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim. You that scum the molten lead. Dryden & Lee.
2. To sweep or range over the surface of. [Obs.] Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates. Milton.
Scum, v. i.
Definition: To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively. Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over. A. K. H. Boyd.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
9 May 2025
(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
