scald

¹

[skawld]

verb (used with object)

1. to burn or affect painfully with or as if with hot liquid or steam.

2. to subject to the action of boiling or hot liquid.

3. to heat to a temperature just short of the boiling point.

   to scald milk.

4. to parboil or blanch (fruit, vegetables, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become scalded.

noun

1. a burn caused by the action of hot liquid or steam.

2. any similar condition, especially as the result of too much heat or sunlight.

3. Plant Pathology.

   1. a blanching of the epidermis and adjacent tissues, which turn pale or dark brown, caused by extreme heat or sun exposure.

   2. a condition resembling scald caused by improper conditions of growth or storage, as in apples, or by fungi, as in cranberries.

scald

²

[skawld]

adjective

1. Also scalled scabby; covered with scurf.

noun

1. a scab.

scald

¹

/ skɔːld /

verb

1. to burn or be burnt with or as if with hot liquid or steam

2. (tr) to subject to the action of boiling water, esp so as to sterilize

3. (tr) to heat (a liquid) almost to boiling point

4. (tr) to plunge (tomatoes, peaches, etc) into boiling water briefly in order to skin them more easily

noun

1. the act or result of scalding

2. an abnormal condition in plants, characterized by discoloration and wrinkling of the skin of the fruits, caused by exposure to excessive sunlight, gases, etc

scald

²

/ skɔːld /

adjective

1. scabby

noun

1. a scab or a skin disease producing scabs

scald

³

/ skɔːld /

noun

1. a variant spelling of skald

Other Word Forms

• nonscalding adjective
• unscalded adjective
• unscalding adjective
• scalder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scald¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb scalde(n), scolde(n), from Anglo-Latin scal(a)dāre, escaudāre, and Old French eschalder, eschauder, from Late Latin excaldāre “to wash in hot water”; ex- ¹, caldarium

Origin of scald²

First recorded in 1490–1500; scall + -ed ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of scald¹

C13: via Old Norman French from Late Latin excaldāre to wash in warm water, from calida ( aqua ) warm (water), from calēre to be warm

Origin of scald²

C16: from _scall

Example Sentences

“Meanwhile, Petaluma Poultry faces no consequences for leaving sick animals to die or scalding animals alive.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

According to the suit, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner ruled Johnson’s cause of death to be severe scalding due to burns on more than 33% of his body.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Others were burned with scalding water or hung upside down in a wardrobe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the time of the incident, the Prison Officers Association said the staff sustained life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds in an "unprovoked" and "vicious" attack.

Read more on BBC

An earlier investigation into the facility revealed that officers had made “sport” of tormenting mentally ill inmates, including forcing inmates into a specially rigged, scalding hot shower as punishment for unruly behavior.

Read more on Salon