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• scud
  scud

  verb (used without object)

  to run or move quickly or hurriedly.
• Scud
  Scud

  noun

  a surface-to-surface missile, especially one deployed on a mobile launcher.

scud

¹ American  

[skuhd] / skʌd /

verb (used without object)

scudded, scudding

1. to run or move quickly or hurriedly.

2. Nautical. to run before a gale with little or no sail set.

3. Archery. (of an arrow) to fly too high and wide of the mark.

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noun

1. the act of scudding.

2. clouds, spray, or mist driven by the wind; a driving shower or gust of wind.

3. low-drifting clouds appearing beneath a cloud from which precipitation is falling.

scud ² American  

[skuhd] / skʌd /

verb (used with object)

scudded, scudding

1. to cleanse (a trimmed and roughly depilated skin or hide) of remaining hairs or dirt.

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noun

1. the hairs or dirt removed by scudding.

Scud ³ American  

[skuhd] / skʌd /

Or Scud missile

noun

1. a surface-to-surface missile, especially one deployed on a mobile launcher.

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scud ¹ British  

/ skʌd /

verb

1. (intr) (esp of clouds) to move along swiftly and smoothly

2. (intr) nautical to run before a gale

3. (tr) to hit; slap

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noun

1. the act of scudding

2. meteorol

   1. a formation of low fractostratus clouds driven by a strong wind beneath rain-bearing clouds

   2. a sudden shower or gust of wind

3. a slap

Scud ² British  

/ skʌd /

noun

1. informal a Soviet-made surface-to-surface missile, originally designed to carry nuclear warheads and with a range of 300 km; later modified to achieve greater range: used by Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War and in the Gulf Wars

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Etymology

Origin of scud¹

First recorded in 1525–35; of obscure origin; possibly from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch schudden “to shake”

Origin of scud²

First recorded in 1780–90; of uncertain origin; perhaps from obsolete scud “dirt”

Origin of Scud³

The NATO name for a missile developed by the Soviets in the 1960s; probably from scud in the sense “to move quickly”

Explanation

To scud is to quickly dart or dash, the way clouds scud across the sky on a windy day or a sailboat scuds along the surface of a lake when it finally catches a breeze. When something scuds, it's often because the wind seems to be blowing it along — so you might watch kites scud over the beach or birds scud from tree to tree. Experts aren't positive about the origins of this word, but one guess connects it to scut, "rabbit" or "rabbit's tail." The speed of something scudding influenced NATO's code name for the Soviet Union's Cold War-era missiles, Scuds.

Example Sentences

Hunting enemy missiles was a major challenge for the U.S. in its 1991 war with Iraq as many of the Scud missiles the Iraqis used were mobile.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Patriot: This American-made system is the oldest member of Israel’s missile-defense system – used during the First Gulf War in 1991 to intercept Scud missiles fired by Iraq’s leader at the time, Saddam Hussein.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 13, 2024

The US sending Patriot batteries to defend Israel from Iraqi Scud missiles attacks, ahead of its own invasion in the 1991 Gulf war, is a rare exception.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2023

During the gulf war, military officials said the system intercepted all but two Iraqi Scud missiles.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2022

"Salt's makin' the boat fast," began Scud, nodding with inimitable ease to his visitors.

From A Republic Without a President and Other Stories by Ward, Herbert D. (Herbert Dickinson)