Past tense of scrap, meaning to discard or abandon something, or to dismantle something for its raw materials. Can refer to canceling plans, projects, or breaking down machinery for parts.
From 'scrap' (small piece, fragment), from Old Norse 'skrap' (scraps, trifles). The verb meaning 'to discard' developed in the early 19th century, with the sense of 'fighting' emerging from the idea of a 'scrappy' or fragmentary conflict.
The automotive industry popularized the modern sense of 'scrapped' during the World War II era, when metal was so valuable that old cars were systematically dismantled for the war effort. The phrase 'scrap drive' became common as communities collected metal objects to support the military, giving 'scrapped' its current meaning of systematic dismantling.
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