des·pu·mate \ˈdespyüˌmāt, də̇ˈs-\verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Latin despumatus, past participle of despumare to skim off, from de- + spuma froth — more at spume transitive verb archaic: to clarify (as wine or honey) by removing a surface scum : skim intransitive verb archaic: to cast off a scum : work off impurities in foam or scum