scald
UK[skɔːld]US[skɑːld]
v
To burn the skin with very hot liquid or steam.
v
To heat a liquid, especially milk, to just below boiling point.
n
A burn caused by hot liquid or steam.
Etymology
The journey of 'scald' begins with the Proto-Indo-European root kelə-, meaning 'to be warm'. This root gave rise to the Latin adjective 'calidus', meaning 'hot'. In Late Latin, the verb 'excaldāre' was formed, literally meaning 'to make thoroughly hot', specifically in the context of bathing. This term passed into Old North French as 'escalder', referring to washing with hot water. Upon entering Middle English, the word shed its initial vowel and narrowed in meaning to specifically denote the action of burning with hot liquid or steam, a sense which has persisted to the modern day, alongside a more technical culinary usage.
Analysis
The word 'scald' is a simplex word. It entered English from Old North French 'escalder' (to wash with hot water), which derived from Late Latin 'excaldāre' (to bathe in hot water). This Late Latin verb is formed from Latin 'ex-' (thoroughly) and 'calidus' (hot). The ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root kelə- (to be warm).
Examples
Be careful not to scald yourself with the boiling water from the kettle.
The recipe instructs you to scald the milk before adding it to the mixture.
He suffered a painful scald on his arm from the spilled soup.