Where does “scummy” come from?

scummy (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.

scummy (English): Covered in scum; sleazy, worthless, no good

Definitions

  1. Covered in scum; sleazy, worthless, no good

Ancestry of “scummy”, 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

Words derived from “scummy”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skūmaz →Every word from Frankish skūm →
scummy — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer