Middle English Dictionary Entry
scǒme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scǒme n. Also skome, scum(e, scumme, skum. |
| Etymology | From MDu. schūme, scūme, schuum, MLG schūm, schūme; also cp. OF escume. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Froth, foam; pl. frothy bubbles; (b) the impure foam that rises to the surface when a liquid boils or is heated; (c) the impure scum that rises to the surface in purifying silver.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)44/24 : Þe oþre manere is huanne me heþ riȝtuolle wyȝtes and riȝtuolle mesures and zelleþ ontreweliche, ase doþ þise tavernyers þet uelleþ þe mesure myd scome.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)308a/b : White matiere is y-gendred of þynnyng and spredyng of eyre, as it fareþ in skome [L spuma].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.62 : The bristilede boor markide with scomes the scholdres of Hercules.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)618/17 : Aspaltum is hardened scume [*Ch.(1): a fome indured; L spuma..indurata] þat is founden in þe Dede See.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)109a : A Scwme [Monson: Scumme]: Spuma, spumosus.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes in EETSSS 8150.11/4 : Take a quarte of fayre water &..þe whyte of iii egges; and take a brusche made of birchen bowes and bete þe water and þe egges togyddyr tyl it be resolued & kast a grete scome abouen.
b
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)52 : Tak ij copful of stale ale and a copful of hony..and hete hit a lytil, and do away the scome.
- ?a1400 *Albi Reynolds 5081 Recipes (Albi Reynolds 5081)f.20v : Tak bayes and brek hem smal in a morter and medle hem with clene oyle de olyue and set it ouer þe fier & let hem sethe til þe scomme wax al grene.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)449 : Scome, or scum of fletynge: Spuma.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)153/16 : Let hyt boyle softly halfe a nowyr, And wen hyt ȝelow in the skome, put þer-yn yowr her.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)101/7 : Tempre it well in a cuppe-fwll of stale ale..and þanne hete it a lytill and doo a-wey þe skum.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)132/32 : Sette ouer þe fyre and lete hem melte togedere..and do awey þe scumme with a fedyr.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)121a/b : Take hony wyne and larde y-molten..& boile hem togidere and clense þe scome.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)84/27 : All þe scome put away, to it be þicke becomen, And þis ys þe precious hony wherof Medicynes er maad.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)220b/b : Crocum..is som tyme y-feyned wiþ a þing þat hatte croco magma for to eche þe wighte wiþ þe scume of siluer y-grounde.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)79/1 : Take halfe an vnce of mastik, of litarge, and scome of siluer.