Definition of DROSS

dross

Meanings

Plural: drosses

Noun

  • worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
  • the scum formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metals
  • Waste or impure matter.
  • Residue that forms as a scum on the surface of molten metal from oxidation.
  • The impurities in metal.
  • A waste product from working with metal.
  • Worthless or trivial matter.
  • Residual raw opium left in an opium pipe which can be recycled for further sale or use.

Verb

  • To remove dross from.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English drosse, dros, from Old English drōs, from Proto-Germanic *drōhs (“dregs, sediment”).
Also compare Old English drōsna, drōsne (“a ground, sediment, lees, dregs, dirt, ear wax”), from Proto-Germanic *drōhsnǭ, *drōhsnō (“dregs, sediment”), derived from *drōhs. Alternatively, this may be from *dragjō + *-snō (“yeast, sediment”; compare *dragjō (“yeast”)), as if from *drēcg + -sn.
Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrā́ks (“sediment, yeast”).
Cognate with Scots dros, drose, drosse (“small particles, fragments, dross”), Middle Dutch droes (“dregs”), Dutch droesem (“dregs”), German Drusen (“lees, dregs”), Latin fracēs (“grounds or dregs of oil”). Related also to drast, dregs.

Scrabble Score: 6

dross is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
dross is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
dross is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

dross is a valid Words With Friends word