shruff

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical metalworking: old or broken brass or copper, filings, dross, and similar metal refuse kept for remelting

   The founder added a portion of shruff to the furnace charge for the new brass plate.

2. 2
   noun

   dialectal: light, dry waste wood or similar refuse used as fuel

   The workmen fed the small furnace with shruff gathered from the yard.

Of uncertain origin, historically compared with scruff and scurf. In metalworking, shruff denoted old or broken brass, copper scrap, filings, and other refuse suitable for remelting; older statutes also spell the compound shroff-metal or shroffe metal.

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