The term scumbag was first recorded in the 1967 edition of the Dictionary of American Slang, although its origins can be traced back to the 1930s. Initially, it referred to a “condom”, likening it to a bag for scum. Over time, the meaning evolved to become a derogatory term for a despicable person in the early 1970s. The usage of this term has significantly increased since then, reaching a peak in 2017.
The word scum is derived from the Middle Dutch term schume, which translates to “foam” or “froth”. This term can be linked back to the Proto-Germanic word skuma, originating from the Proto-Indo-European root skew, meaning “cover”, as foam covers water. On the other hand, the term bag has its roots in the Old Norse noun baggi, signifying “bundle”, which may have connections to the Proto-Indo-European term bask, also meaning “bundle”.
