offscum
(ˈɒfskʌm, ɔː-)
Also 6 offscome, ofscombe, 7 off-scumme, of-scum(me.
[f. off- 3 + scum.]
That which is skimmed off; scum, dross, refuse; fig. that which is rejected as vile or worthless (usually of persons, in collective sing. or pl.; formerly also of one person).
| 1579 Lodge Def. Plays 3 A little pamphelet..I fynd it the offscome [mispr. oftscome] of imperfections. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 40 b, The ofscombe of that unsavory schoolkitchen. 1605 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. iii. Lawe 328 These off-scums all at once Too idlely pampred, plot Rebellions. a 1670 Hacket Abp. Williams ii. (1692) 161 The roguy off-scum in the streets of Westminster talk'd so loud. 1763 J. Brown Poetry & Mus. iii. 28 The Off⁓scum of civilized Nations. 1863 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia 11 The offscum and the offscouring of the very dregs of your society. |
| attrib. 1626 tr. Boccalini's New-found Politicke iii. xiii. 207 A most vile Game deuised by the off-scum raskals of men. |