scud

1
[ skuhd ]
See synonyms for scud on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),scud·ded, scud·ding.
  1. to run or move quickly or hurriedly.

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

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

noun
  1. the act of scudding.

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

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

Origin of scud

1
First recorded in 1525–35; of obscure origin; possibly from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch schudden “to shake”

Other definitions for scud (2 of 3)

scud2
[ skuhd ]

verb (used with object),scud·ded, scud·ding.
  1. to cleanse (a trimmed and roughly depilated skin or hide) of remaining hairs or dirt.

noun
  1. the hairs or dirt removed by scudding.

Origin of scud

2
First recorded in 1780–90; of uncertain origin; perhaps from obsolete scud “dirt”

Other definitions for Scud (3 of 3)

Scud

or Scud missile

[ skuhd ]

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

Origin of Scud

3
The NATO name for a missile developed by the Soviets in the 1960s; probably from scud in the sense “to move quickly”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scud in a sentence

  • In the dark branches of the trees the wind whistled mournfully, and the scudding clouds were precursory of rain.

    The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
  • Scudding clouds were seen flitting across the sky, from which there descended now and then misty showers of rain.

    Rollo in Holland | Jacob Abbott
  • Sandpipers went scudding along down by the water, and the mountain holly began putting on a new dress.

    Maid Sally | Harriet A. Cheever
  • As he reached the street, he saw a boy scudding along under an umbrella, with a package under his arm.

    Sevenoaks | J. G. Holland
  • Spray was scudding across the isthmus, and the sea for a mile from the shore was just a seething cauldron.

    The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson

British Dictionary definitions for scud (1 of 2)

scud

/ (skʌd) /


verbscuds, scudding or scudded
  1. (intr) (esp of clouds) to move along swiftly and smoothly

  2. (intr) nautical to run before a gale

  1. (tr) Scot to hit; slap

noun
  1. the act of scudding

  2. meteorol

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

    • a sudden shower or gust of wind

  1. Scot a slap

Origin of scud

1
C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian skudda to thrust, Swedish skudda to shake

British Dictionary definitions for Scud (2 of 2)

Scud

/ (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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012