What does scug mean?

Posted by GPP on July 28, 2003

In Reply to: What does scug mean? posted by Bruce Kahl on July 28, 2003

: : : context doesn't say anything more. but I guess it's NOT anything abbreviation.
: : : I come along this word in donald barthelme's Snow White, page 37.
: : : Thanks for your help.
: : :

: : Tell us where you are in the book. My 1972 Antheum paperback page 37 begins "SNOW WHITE was cleaning. "Book lice do not bite people," she said to herself. [etc.]"; no 'scug' on that page. Oh, OK, on my page 31. You're right, no context whatever, and presumably not an abbreviation. Probably a made-up nonsense word for its emotional weight rather than carrying any meaning, but let's see if anyone can contribute anything better.

: I don't know if the following is better but here goes:

: From: machaut.uchicago.edu

: Scug (?), v. i. [Cf. Dan. skugge to darken, a shade, SW. skugga to shade, a shade, Icel. skuggja to shade, skuggi a shade.] To hide. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

:
: Scug, n. A place of shelter; the declivity of a hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

: Scug
: Noun
: Definition 1: The hair that accumulates on the drain of a shower after use.
: Usage Example: When I went into the shower this morning, the scug on top of the drain nearly blocked the water from going down.

Any of these three suggestions could work equally well. The paragraph is typeset with large spaces that don't translate onto this display page, so instead I'll use ellipses:

Seven is too...moves too much and is absent partly...different levels of emotional release calculated paroxysms...scug...dissolve thinking parts of face...lower area of Clem from the nose's bottom to the line, an inch from the chin cliff...not enough ever...Extra difficulty! His use of color!...Firmness...mirror...custody of the blow...scale model...I concede that it is to a degree...instruments...adequate distances parched...to touch each one with invisible kindly general delivery hands, washing motions...mirror

(I bet you don't remember this part of 'Snow White'! Actually, the rest of the book is a lot more readable than this page--but not necessarily more understandable.)