Scum
Scum (skum) , noun
[Of Scand. origin; compare Danish & Swedish skum, Icelandic skūm, LG. schum, Dutch schuim, Old High German scūm, German schaum; probably from a root meaning, to cover. r158. Compare 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 as it did rise.
2.
refuse; recrement; anything vile or worthless.
The great and innocent are insulted by the scum and refuse of the people.
Scum , transitive verb
1.
To take the scum from; to clear off the impure matter from the surface of; to skim.
You that scum the molten lead.
2.
To sweep or range over the surface of. [Obsolete]
Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates.
Scum , intransitive verb
To form a scum; to become covered with scum. Also used figuratively.
Life, and the interest of life, have stagnated and scummed over.