Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “scummer” come from?

scummer (English) comes from English scum, from Middle English scum, from Middle Dutch schūme, from Old Dutch *scūm, from Frankish skūm, from Proto-Germanic skūmaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.

scummer (English): An instrument for taking off scum; A supporter of...

Definitions

  1. An instrument for taking off scum; A supporter of...

Ancestry of “scummer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscumA layer of impurities that accumulates at the...
2Middle Englishscum—
3Middle Dutchschūmefoam
4Old Dutch*scūm—
5Frankishskūmfoam; froth, foam
6Proto-Germanicskūmazfilm; grime; scum; foam; froth; yeast
7Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- →