Came into English via Middle English drosse, dros, from Old English drōs, from Proto-Germanic *drōhs, meaning ‘dregs, sediment’. Compare also Old English drōsna, drōsne, meaning ‘a ground, sediment, lees, dregs, dirt, ear wax’, from Proto-Germanic *drōhsnǭ, *drōhsnō, meaning ‘dregs, sediment’, itself derived from *drōhs. Alternatively, it may come from *dragjō plus *-snō, meaning ‘yeast, sediment’ (compare *dragjō, meaning ‘yeast’), as if from *drēcg plus -sn, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrā́ks, meaning ‘sediment, yeast’. It is cognate with Scots dros, drose, drosse, meaning ‘small particles, fragments, dross’, Middle Dutch droes, meaning ‘dregs’, Dutch droesem, meaning ‘dregs’, German Drusen, meaning ‘lees, dregs’, and Latin fracēs, meaning ‘grounds or dregs of oil’. It is also related to drast and dregs.

Synonyms

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slag scoria impurity

Antonyms

cream

Related words

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Rhymes for dross

oss boss loss toss foss joss moss doss Voss Ross goss Hoss

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of dross?

"dross" (noun) means rubbish or unwanted, impure material.

What is another word for dross?

Other words for "dross" include slag, scoria, impurity.

What is the opposite of dross?

The opposite of "dross" is cream.

What are the different meanings of dross?

"dross" has 3 main meanings: 1. Rubbish or unwanted, impure material; 2. A scum that forms on top of melted metal when it oxidises; 3. Impurities found within metal.

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