Definition of spume

The word "spume" originates from the Old Norse word "speumr" which means "foam" or "foaming". The Old Norse language was spoken by the Vikings and Norse men in the centuries before and after the 11th century. The word "spume" entered the English language through Old Norse words adopted during the Viking Age when the Vikings, who spoke Old Norse, raided, colonized, and traded in England. "Spume" appeared in Old English texts during the 12th century when it was likely around 1,000 years old. In Middle English, the word "spume" was used in the sense of "foam" or "froth" as it still is today. It could be used to describe the frothy head on a pint of ale or the foam from waves crashing against the shore. As the English language evolved, the word "spume" retained its sense of "foaming" or "frothing", but also took on a more metaphorical meaning. In modern English, "spume" is also used to describe something that is effusive, extravagant, or overdone - such as a speech that spumes with hyperbole or a romance that spumes with passion. This linguistic evolution demonstrates the enduring nature of language and the ways in which words continue to be influenced by their origins and usage over time.