scud Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of moving along swiftly (as before a gale)
    scudding.
  2. verb run or move very quickly or hastily
    shoot; flash; dart; dash; scoot.
    • She dashed into the yard
  3. verb run before a gale
    rack.

WordNet

Scud intransitive verb
Etymology
Dan. skyde to shoot, shove, push, akin to skud shot, gunshot, a shoot, young bough, and to E. shoot. See Shoot.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scudded; present participle & verbal noun Scudding
Definitions
  1. To move swiftly; especially, to move as if driven forward by something.
    The first nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm primeval oceans. I. Taylor.
    The wind was high; the vast white clouds scudded over the blue heaven. Beaconsfield.
  2. (Naut.) To be driven swiftly, or to run, before a gale, with little or no sail spread.
Scud transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pass over quickly. R. Shenstone.
Scud noun
Definitions
  1. The act of scudding; a driving along; a rushing with precipitation.
  2. Loose, vapory clouds driven swiftly by the wind.
    Borne on the scud of the sea. Longfellow.
    The scud was flying fast above us, throwing a veil over the moon. Sir S. Baker.
  3. A slight, sudden shower. Prov. Eng. Wright.
  4. (Zoöl.) A small flight of larks, or other birds, less than a flock. Prov. Eng.
  5. (Zoöl.) Any swimming amphipod crustacean.

Webster 1913