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scram - What does it mean?

Definition of 'scram'

English

Etymology 1

Attested since 1928“ scram” in the Online Etymology Dictionary , © November 2001 Douglas Harper , originally as U.S. slang; either: * formed by abbreviation of scramble by apocope; or * from dialect (etyl) schramm, imperative singular form of .

Verb

(scramm)
  • Get out of here; go away (frequently imperative).
    • If you don't scram , I'll leave instead!
    Synonyms
    * See also

    See also

    * amscray

    Etymology 2

    Back-formation from (SCRAM); most etymologies are backronyms.

    Verb

  • (ambitransitive) To abruptly insert the control rods of a nuclear reactor, usually in case of emergency shutdown.
  • * 1983 , Michio Kaku & Jennifer Trainer (eds.), Nuclear Power: Both Sides , p. 22,
    • The slightest problem in a reactor will cause the control rods to plunge automatically in the uranium core at hih speeds (this is called scramming the reactor) and stop the chain reaction.
  • * 1999 , Charles Perrow, Normal Accidents: Living with High-risk Technologies , p. 44,
    • This shut off current to the control rod mechanism, and the reactor scrammed (shut off) automatically.
  • * 2000 , Ralph R. Fullwood, Probabilistic Safety Assessment in the Chemical and Nuclear Industries , Elsevier, page 218
    • Both active and manual methods scram' by tripping power to a dedicated pump that unbalances the flows to the (SIC) passively ' scram the reactor.
  • * 2007 , Samuel Upton Newtan, Nuclear War I and Other Major Nuclear Disasters of the 20th Century , p. 113,
    • The reactor was then "scramed ", but the control rods did not slide back into the reactor.

    Noun

    (-)
  • A rapid shutdown of a nuclear reactor

    • Etymology 3

    Etymology unknown.

    Verb

    (scramm)
  • (Wales) with claws or fingernails.
  • * 1996–2014 , “ A Dictionary of Slang]”, [http://web.archive.org/web/20130830021725/http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/s.htm archived on 30 August 2013, accessed on 19 March 2014:
    • Verb. ... 2. To scratch, with claws or fingernails. E.g. "It's my own fault the cat scrammed me, I was teasing it." [South Wales use]
  • * (Also reported as '''2013 December 21, “Cat wakes woman as flat fills with smoke”", ''(The Daily Telegraph) , p. 17.)'>citation

    • Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (Wales) A , especially caused by claws or fingernails.
  • * 1996–2014 , “ A Dictionary of Slang]”, [http://web.archive.org/web/20130830021725/http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/s.htm archived on 30 August 2013, accessed on 19 March 2014:
    • Noun. ... 2. A scratch. [South Wales use]

    References

    Anagrams

    * * marcs

    Similar to 'scram'

    scrim, serum, swarm, scream, scrum, squirm, shroom, scherm, skrim, shram