scram

¹ American  

[skram] / skræm /

verb (used without object)

Informal.

scrammed, scramming

1. to go away; get out (usually used as a command).

   I said I was busy, so scram.

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scram ² American  

[skram] / skræm /

noun

1. the rapid shutdown of a nuclear reactor in an emergency.

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verb (used with object)

1. to shut down (a nuclear reactor) rapidly in an emergency.

scram ¹ British  

/ skræm /

noun

1. an emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor

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verb

1. (of a nuclear reactor) to shut down or be shut down in an emergency

scram ² British  

/ skræm /

verb

1. informal (intr; often imperative) to go away hastily; get out

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Etymology

Origin of scram¹

1925–30; probably shortened form of scramble (but compare German schramm, imperative singular of schrammen to depart)

Origin of scram²

1945–50; perhaps identical with scram ¹, though sense development is unclear

Example Sentences

All we can do is try to repel them with products such as Scram, netting in some cases, fences and other barriers.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2020

In Moultrie, Ga., an irate traffic cop demanded an autoist's name, for an answer got "Scram"�and, just in the nick of time, the rest of it: Joe Scram.

From Time Magazine Archive

And as for Tom Mboya's big "Scram," no time limit was even mentioned.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Scram, carrion!" a guard shouted defiantly to newsmen last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

"But he was supposed to be in the elevator, and we—" "Scram," Sand said.

From Occasion for Disaster by Garrett, Randall