scald

Etymology 1

From Middle English scalden, from Old Northern French escalder (cf. central Old French eschauder, eschalder), from Late Latin excaldāre (“bathe in hot water”), from Latin ex- (“off, out”) + cal(i)dus (“hot”).

verb

1. To burn with hot liquid.
   to scald the hand
   Here the blue flames of scalding brimstone fall. 1656, Abraham Cowley, Davideis
   The fireman was scalded by steam, but he did not fare so badly as the enemy pilot, whose dead body was found on a bank about 100 yd. away from the train. 1943 March and April, “Notes and News: Southern Locomotive Destroys Raider”, in Railway Magazine, page 119
2. (cooking) To heat almost to boiling.
   Scald the milk until little bubbles form.

noun

1. A burn, or injury to the skin or flesh, by hot liquid or steam.

Etymology 2

Alteration of scall or scalled.

noun

1. (obsolete) Scaliness; a scabby skin disease.

adj

1. (obsolete) Affected with the scab; scabby.
   and let us knog our / prains together to be revenge on this same scald, scurvy, / cogging companion, 1599, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, act III, scene i, line 110
2. (obsolete) Paltry; worthless.
   Saucy lictors / Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers / Ballad us out o' tune. 1598, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra, act V, scene ii, line 215

Etymology 3

noun

1. Alternative form of skald