Wordul · all words

verb · 1 syllable · /skoʊld/

SCOLD

What does "SCOLD" mean?

To reprimand someone angrily, usually for a fault or wrongdoing.

Meanings

  1. To rebuke or criticize someone with angry words. The teacher scolded him for running in the hall.
  2. A person, historically a woman, known for habitual nagging or quarreling. In old court records she was branded a common scold. archaic

Did you know?

  • In English law a 'common scold' was a real punishable offence, and convicted women could be sentenced to the ducking stool; the charge was on the books until it was abolished in England in 1967.

Word origin

From Old Norse 'skald' ('poet'), which gave Middle English 'scold' the early sense of a satirical or abusive talker before narrowing to angry rebuke.

Remember it

SCOLD sounds like 'cold' with an S - a scolding leaves the room a little colder.

A little poem

She scolds the broken cup,
then sweeps each shard up gently-
anger and care, same hands.

tercet

What it teaches

A scolding lands hardest when it is brief; the longer it runs, the less it teaches.

Quick facts

What does SCOLD mean?

To reprimand someone angrily, usually for a fault or wrongdoing.

Is SCOLD a valid word?

Yes — SCOLD is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is SCOLD?

SCOLD has 5 letters and 1 syllable.

Where does SCOLD come from?

From Old Norse 'skald' ('poet'), which gave Middle English 'scold' the early sense of a satirical or abusive talker before narrowing to angry rebuke.

What can SCOLD teach us?

A scolding lands hardest when it is brief; the longer it runs, the less it teaches.

How players do

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