Etymology 1

• formed by abbreviation of by aphæresis; or
• from dialect , imperative singular form of .

Verb

1. Get out of here; go away (frequently imperative).

   If you don't scram, I'll leave instead!

Verb

1. To abruptly insert the control rods of a nuclear reactor, usually in case of emergency shutdown.
   • 1983, Michio Kaku & Jennifer Trainer (eds.), Nuclear Power: Both Sides, p. 22,

     The slightest problem in a reactor will cause the control rods to plunge automatically in the uranium core at hih speeds (this is called scramming the reactor) and stop the chain reaction.

   • 1999, Charles Perrow, Normal Accidents: Living with High-risk Technologies, p. 44,

     This shut off current to the control rod mechanism, and the reactor scrammed (shut off) automatically.

   • 2000, Ralph R. Fullwood, Probabilistic Safety Assessment in the Chemical and Nuclear Industries, Elsevier, page 218

     Both active and manual methods scram by tripping power to a dedicated pump that unbalances the flows to the passively scram the reactor.

   • 2007, Samuel Upton Newtan, Nuclear War I and Other Major Nuclear Disasters of the 20th Century, p. 113,

     The reactor was then "scramed", but the control rods did not slide back into the reactor.

Noun

1. A rapid shutdown of a nuclear reactor