Learn English – the meaning and etymology of ‘scut’ from ‘scut work’

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What is the origin of scut in scut work?

According to Merriam-Webster,
scut work: routine and often menial labor

Probably from medical argot, scut meaning 'junior intern'
First known use: circa 1962

Usage example:

… women who generally feel that they are second-class citizens in the medical profession — unappreciated and directed by (mostly male) doctors to perform largely scut work.

This ngram shows that scut work was not used before 1960 when it took hold as medical jargon. It supports the idea that the term was not already in general use and subsequently popularized in hospitals, rather that it originated there.

Scut work

This returns us to the medical coinage. Could it be related to meaning (2) in the OED?

scut
1. the short tail of a hare, rabbit, or deer.
2. (inf. chiefly Irish) a person perceived as foolish, contemptible, or objectionable.

There is another theory that it is derived from Oxford University servants called scouts, but I consider this unlikely given the US origin of scut work.

Best Answer

In the Wiktionary scutwork entry, one of the references, Medical meanings: a glossary of word origins, suggests either scuttle, or OE scitan (excrement) as possible origins of the scut in scutwork. I think scitan is plausible; note from the etymology of shit:

Noun use for "obnoxious person" is since at least 1508

Wiktionary also suggests for scut as "contemptible person" that the etymology may be from the obsolete sense of scout, which Etymonline explains:

"to reject with scorn," c.1600, of Scandinavian origin (cf. O.N. skuta, skute "taunt"), probably from a source related to shout.

I think you're probably right that meaning (2) of scut is more closely related to scutwork, but note that calling someone contemptible doesn't have to be unrelated to meaning (1) as in the quotations in Wiktionary, or, for example, this 1907 story:

"Don't understand me?" roared the farmer. "What have you done to my darter, you scut, sitting there preening of yersel, like a silly peacock in the sun?"
The angry man approached the bed swiftly, and, seizing Aubrey's pyjama-clad shoulder in a massive fist, thrust his hairy face within an inch of his victim's nose.
"What have you been doin' to my lass?" he roared again. "Now d'yew onderstand me?"
"W-what has she been telling you?" Aubrey was horribly frightened.
"Summat that made me sware you shouldn't leave this house till you'm man and wife all raight and praper accordin' to law."

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