scud

verb \ ˈskəd \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of scud

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

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Examples of scud in a Sentence

Clouds scudded across the sky.

Recent Examples of scud from the Web

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, "'Blood flowed in the streets': Refugees from one Rohingya village recount days of horror," 17 Sep. 2017
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, "'Blood flowed in the streets': Refugees from one Rohingya village recount days of horror," 17 Sep. 2017
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, "'Blood flowed in the streets': Refugees from one Rohingya village recount days of horror," 17 Sep. 2017
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, "'Blood flowed in the streets': Refugees from one Rohingya village recount days of horror," 17 Sep. 2017
The boat scuds out across the Gulf and veers west toward the horizon.

— matthew shaer, New Republic, "—one of the highest rates in the nation.," 5 Oct. 2017
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, "'Blood flowed in the streets': Refugees from one Rohingya village recount days of horror," 17 Sep. 2017
The military crackdown has continued unabated since then, black smoke scudding across the skyline visible in southern Bangladesh even this past week.

— annie gowen, Washington Post, "‘Blood flowed in the streets’: Refugees from one Rohingya village recount days of horror," 16 Sep. 2017
There was something about that combination of granite peaks, scudding clouds, and the ebb and flow of the Atlantic tides that has remained in my memory forever.

— Town & Country, "The Best of Africa's Wine Country," 2 Apr. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scud.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of scud

perhaps from Middle Dutch schudden to shake

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1532

See Words from the same year

scud

noun

Definition of scud

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

a cold scud sent leaves skittering down from the trees

Recent Examples of scud from the Web

Fly fishing below the dam on #16 and #18 scuds has been productive.

— tyler mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Where they’re biting as the weather remains unpredictable | The Kansas City Star," 21 Feb. 2018
Near the dam, drifting brown and gray scuds has been productive as well as white jigs.

— tyler mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Water temps creeping toward, into the lower 50s | The Kansas City Star," 21 Mar. 2018
Fly fishing below the dam on #16 and #18 scuds has been productive.

— tyler mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Where they’re biting as the weather remains unpredictable | The Kansas City Star," 21 Feb. 2018
Fly fishing below the dam on #16 and #18 scuds has been productive.

— tyler mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Where they’re biting as the weather remains unpredictable | The Kansas City Star," 21 Feb. 2018
Fly fishing below the dam on #16 and #18 scuds has been productive.

— tyler mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Here comes the sun, and a long-awaited warm-up for area lakes," 15 Feb. 2018
About 15 years ago, a shipload of scud missiles from North Korea heading to Yemen was captured.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Speak Out: Columbus did not come over on the Mayflower," 15 Dec. 2017
Scud, a sort of freshwater shrimp, are also heavily utilized.

— john schandelmeier, Alaska Dispatch News, "How to tell your gulls apart," 23 July 2017
Spinney Reservoir There have been rainbow trout in the 20- to 24-inch range being caught at both ramps on scud, chironomid, and egg patterns.

— colorado parks & wildlife, The Denver Post, "Colorado fishing report for week of May 7, 2017," 7 May 2017

First Known Use of scud

1609

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

SCUD Defined for English Language Learners

scud

verb

Definition of scud for English Language Learners

: to move or go quickly

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