drosses

Noun

dross (usually uncountable, plural drosses)

1. (usually) Residue that forms as a scum on the surface of molten metal from oxidation.

   Synonyms:

   slag, scoria

2. (usually) The impurities in metal.
3. (usually) A waste product from working with metal.
   • Dross is related with the incomplete expulsion of the melt from the bottom of the kerf. For precision applications where the clean cutting edges are important the formation of dross at the bottom of the cutting kerf must be controlled. This requires deep understanding of the mechanisms of dross...2008, Narendra B. Dahotre, Sandip Harimkar, Laser Fabrication and Machining of Materials, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 176

   Synonyms:

   slag

4. (figuratively, usually) Worthless or trivial matter.
   • What thou lovest well remains,
     the rest is drossc. 1945, Ezra Pound, Canto LXXXI

   Synonyms:

   junk, rubbish

5. (slang, usually) Residual raw opium left in an opium pipe which can be recycled for further sale or use.

See all 6 meanings of dross