A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513, 1567-1637
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Scum, n. Also: skum(m, scumme, scume. [e.m.E. and ME scume (a1250), scome (1340), skumme (1554). Cf. MLG schûm, MDu. schuum, OHG scûm; OF escume (mod. F. écume) has the same ulterior origin as these.]
1. Froth, foam. Also fig.1513 Doug. vii vii 129.
So swellis vp the skum and bellis bedenefig. 1629 Boyd Last B. 447.
All his religion was but scroofe and scumme 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1664) 169.
The scum & froth of my letters I father upon my oun unbeleeving heart
2. Dross from melted metal. b. That which is worthless; refuse.1581-1623 James VI Poems I 131/160.
She uith her hookes deceatfullie doth mixe for us & mell The skumm of silluer & arsenike 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 274.
As ordinarily melted gold casteth forth a drossy scumb. a1568 Bannatyne MS 23b/30.
Think that this lyfe is nocht thé lent For skafing heir of scruf and skum Bot to serve God with clene entent
3. The scume of nature, those regarded as worthless members of society; ‘scum’.1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 112.
Of diverse ranks each creature, Even from the judges to the scume of nature
