Scud
[skəd]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Unknown origin, mid 16th century
1.
(Mainly literary) A formation of vapory clouds driven fast by the wind. A mass of windblown spray; a driving shower of rain or snow; a gust.
2.
The action of moving fast in a straight line when driven by the wind.
Examples of Scud in a sentence
"The scud of clouds raced quickly across the sky."
"The water vapor formed a scud of fog that billowed across the field."
About Scud
This word was first used as a verb in the 1530s, meaning "to move quickly." It might be a variant of the Middle English “scut,” meaning "rabbit, rabbit's tail" in reference to its movements.
Did you Know?
“Scud” can easily be confused for another similar-sounding word, “scut.” While “scud” is primarily a literary term used to describe clouds or droplets of water being moved by wind gusts, “scut” is the short tail of a hare, rabbit, or deer.