Plural of crud; informal term for filthy or disgusting matter, dirt, or something unwanted; also a mild exclamation of frustration.
Possibly from dialectal or Middle English, related to curd or crud meaning gunk. The exact origin is unclear, but it became common slang in the 20th century, particularly in military and school contexts.
The word 'crud' exploded in popularity during World War II as military slang—soldiers used it as a relatively safe way to curse ('Oh, crud!') while discussing the grime and filth of warfare!
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