Scram Definition

skrăm

scrammed, scramming, scrams

verb

scrammed, scrams

To leave or get out, esp. in a hurry.

Webster's New World

To manually or automatically shut down (a nuclear reactor) usually by using the control rods.

Webster's New World

To shut down automatically. Used of a nuclear reactor.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

Such a shutdown of a nuclear reactor.

Webster's New World

Alternative spelling of SCRAM.

Wiktionary

Origin of Scram

Originally an acronym for Safety Control Rod Axe Man, a term used to refer to the person assigned to the duty of dropping the boron control rods into the "pile" at the University of Chicago in case of emergency. This task was accomplished by cutting the supporting ropes with an axe and allowing the rods to drop into the core by natural gravitational forces.

From Wiktionary
from dialect German schramm, imperative singular form of schrammen (“graze").

From Wiktionary
Back-formation from SCRAM; most etymologies are backronyms.

From Wiktionary
formed by abbreviation of scramble by apocope; or

From Wiktionary
Unclear, conflicting sources are probably backronyms.

From Wiktionary
Perhaps short for scramble

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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