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Added 9 October 2026

scud

/skʌd/ verb

First recorded: 1530 Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scud at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To race along swiftly (especially used of clouds).
clouds scudding across the sky
To run, or be driven, before a high wind with few or no sails set.
To hit or slap.

noun

The act of scudding.
Clouds or rain(s) (or snow, etc) driven by the wind.
A loose formation of small ragged cloud fragments (or fog) not attached to a larger higher cloud layer.

Origin

First attested in 1530, of unknown origin but perhaps from Middle English scut (“rabbit, rabbit's tail”) or from Middle Dutch schudden (“to shake”), ultimately of Scandinavian origin.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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