scud

1 of 2

verb

scudded; scudding

intransitive verb

1
: to move or run swiftly especially as if driven forward
clouds scudding across the sky
2
: to run before a gale

scud

2 of 2

noun

1
: the action of scudding : rush
2
a
: loose vapory clouds driven swiftly by the wind
b(1)
: a slight sudden shower
(2)
: mist, rain, snow, or spray driven by the wind
c
: a gust of wind

Examples of scud in a Sentence

Verb Clouds scudded across the sky. Noun a cold scud sent leaves skittering down from the trees
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The ship’s days could be relatively routine for long stretches, but extreme vigilance was required while watching the distant horizon where the sky met the sea under the low, gray, scudding clouds. James G. Stavridis, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2020 The movement of cloud silhouettes scudding across the floor of a distant valley tracks the cumulus shapes racing across the dome of sky. Guy Trebay, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2018 Just as the lights went down for the second performance, dark clouds scudded across the moon that shone on the theater. Terry Teachout, WSJ, 27 July 2018 Galvis scudded his throw in front of first baseman Eric Hosmer, who could not catch it. Andy McCullough, latimes.com, 12 July 2018 The military crackdown has continued unabated since then, black smoke scudding across the skyline visible in southern Bangladesh even this past week. Annie Gowen, chicagotribune.com, 17 Sep. 2017
Noun
In low, clear water when trout are spooky, a bait presented on a dry fly or scud hook will drift more naturally with the current and that can mean the difference between a take and a pass. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024 Likewise, tiny freshwater shrimp called scuds provide another winter food source. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 2 Nov. 2023 Like many tailwaters, spring creeks hold bug-sized crustaceans like scuds and sow bugs, essentially freshwater shrimp that are easily imitated with simple patterns on a natural drift. Morgan Lyle, Field & Stream, 13 July 2023 Pink scud clouds over the bridges, Vauxhall, Lambeth, Battersea, spider-work. Cynthia Zarin, The New York Review of Books, 29 June 2023 Block’s fans and peers observed him scud around the reaper’s blade at 110 mph ... Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 7 Jan. 2023 Keller is investigating how well the barriers work against invertebrates — those little, sometimes microscopic, spineless organisms like quagga mussels, scud, water fleas and bloody red shrimp. Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, Journal Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2022 The pilot with the plane low on gas followed me right through the hole over Shastina, ducked under the scud and landed two miles away, at Weed Airport. Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 June 2020 The riverbottom is home to huge numbers of scuds and larvae from midges, caddis, stones, and mayflies. John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 28 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps from Middle Dutch schudden to shake

First Known Use

Verb

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scud was in 1532

Dictionary Entries Near scud

Cite this Entry

“Scud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scud. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scud

1 of 2 verb
scudded; scudding
: to move or run swiftly
clouds scudding across the sky

scud

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of scudding
2
: light clouds driven by the wind

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