See Also: scum(dictionary)
scum(dictionary)
scum(medicine)
pond scum(dictionary)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital- Medicine Lodge(health)
Orthomolecular medicine (orthomolecular nutritional medicine, orthomolecular therapy)(health)
medicine(2)(dictionary)
medicine(encyclopedia)
medicine(dictionary)

photoptarmosis (medicine) and scum (iou)


photoptarmosis (medicine)


photoptarmosis
Reflex sneezing that occurs when bright light stimulates the retina.

Origin: photo-+ G. Ptarmos, a sneezing, + -osis, condition


scum (iou)



scum noun & verb. ME.
[Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schum (Dutch schuim) = Old High German scum (German Schaum: cf. MEERSCHAUM) from Germanic.]
A. noun.
sing. & in pl. Foam, froth. ME-L17.
a. A layer of dirt, froth, impurities, or Other matter, forming on the surface of a liquid, esp. in boiling or fermentation; a Film of algae, refuse, etc., on stagnant water; gen. any undesirable surface layer or deposit. LME.
A. Ransome John let the dirty water and the scum..on the surface flow away. A. Desai A ditch in which weeds stood..in mud and scum.
b. Dross rising to the surface in the purifying of a metal, slag. E16-E19.
c. Semen. coarse slang (chiefly US). M20.
a. collect. Worthless despicable people; the most contemptible part of the population of a place, society, etc. L16.
P. G. Wodehouse Don't talk to me about poets! The scum of the earth.
b. A group of such people. L16-E19.
c. A worthless despicable person. L16.
W. Styron Detestable scum that you are..no more civilized than a sewer rat.
Comb.: scumbag slang (orig. US) (a) a condom; (b) a worthless despicable person (also as a General term of Abuse).
b. verb. Infl. -mm-.
verb trans. Clear scum from the surface of (a liquid), skim; remove as scum, skim off. Now also, be or form a scum on. LME.
T. Pynchon The water in the vats..lay stagnant and scummed over.
b. Travel or search through, scour, (an area). LME-L17.
verb intrans. Of a liquid: become covered with scum, Film over with scum, throw up or produce scum. Formerly also, rise to the surface as scum. L15.
scumless adjective L19.