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Dolt vs Scum - What's the difference?

dolt | scum |

As nouns the difference between dolt and scum

is that dolt is (pejorative) a stupid person; a blockhead or dullard while scum is (uncountable) a layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).

As verbs the difference between dolt and scum

is that dolt is (obsolete) to behave foolishly while scum is to remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc).

dolt

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (pejorative) A stupid person; a blockhead or dullard.
  • * c. 1603 ,
  • O gull! O dolt ! As ignorant as dirt!
  • * Drayton
  • This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * doltish

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To behave foolishly.
  • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    scum

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).
  • (uncountable) A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds
  • The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank.
  • (uncountable, slang, chiefly US) semen
  • (countable, derogatory, slang) A reprehensible person or persons.
  • (countable, derogatory, slang) police officer(s)
  • Synonyms

    * (layer of impurities) dross, impurities * (layer of impurities on molten metal) cinder, scoriae, slag * (person considered reprehensible) bastard

    Verb

    (scumm)
  • To remove the layer of scum from (a liquid etc.).
  • To remove (something) as scum.
  • *1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.vii:
  • *:Some scumd the drosse, that from the metall came; / Some stird the molten owre with ladles great.
  • To become covered with scum.
  • *1769 , Elizabeth Raffald, The Experienced English House-keeper , pp.321-322:
  • *:Take the smallest Cucumbers you can get, and as free from Spots as possible, put them into a strong Salt and Water for nine or ten Days, or 'till they are quite Yellow, and stir them twice a Day at least, or they will scum over, and grow soft
  • (obsolete) To scour (the land, sea etc.).
  • *:
  • *:SOo by Merlyns aduys ther were sente fore rydars to skumme the Countreye / & they mette with the fore rydars of the north / and made hem to telle whiche wey the hooste cam / and thenne they told it to Arthur / and by kyng Ban and Bors counceill they lete brenne and destroye alle the contrey afore them there they shold ryde
  • *Milton
  • *:Wandering up and down without certain seat, they lived by scumming those seas and shores as pirates.
  • (obsolete) To gather together, as scum.
  • *1815 , Rudolf Ackerman and Frederic Shoberl, The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics :
  • *:A great majority of the members are scummed together from the Jacobinical dregs of former periods of the revolution.
  • To startscum or savescum.
  • Anagrams

    * *