zinc scum, n.

zinc-scum
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zinc-scum_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# zinc scumnoun

## Factsheet

### Where does the noun zinc scum come from?

Earliest known use

1880s

The earliest known use of the noun zinc scum is in the 1880s.

OED's only evidence for zinc scum is from 1881, in Transactions of American Institute of Mining Engineers 1880–1.

### Nearby entries

1. zincograph, v. 1865–
2. zincographer, n. 1839–
3. zincographic, adj. 1850–
4. zincography, n. 1834–
5. zincoid, n. 1842–
6. zinc orange, n. 1918–
7. zincous, adj. 1842–
8. zinc-plate, n. 1823–
9. zinc-powder, n. 1881–
10. zinc roof, n. 1883–
11. zinc scum, n.1881–
12. zinc spar, n. 1796–
13. zinc-sponge, n. 1902–
14. zinc sulphide, n. 1851–
15. zinc white, n. 1847–
16. zincy, adj. 1757–
17. zinc yellow, n. 1847–
18. zindabad, int. & n. 1930–
19. zindan, n. 1844–
20. Zindikite, n. 1694–
21. Zindiq, n. 1667–

## Meaning & use

1. 1881–
   See zinc n. Compounds.
   1. 1881

      > Zinc-scum, the zinc-silver alloy skimmed from the surface of the bath in the process of desilverization of lead by zinc.

      Transactions of American Institute of Mining Engineers 1880–1 vol. 9 192

Originally published as part of the entry for zinc, n.

zinc, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.