descale
verb
de·scale
(ˌ)dē-ˈskāl
descaled; descaling; descales
1
: to remove a coating, layer, or incrustation from : to free from scale (see scale entry 3 sense 3)
To descale the kettle, fill it with equal parts water and vinegar and let it soak for an hour before making sure it's been properly rinsed out.—Sarra Gray
2
: to remove scales (see scale entry 3 sense 1a) from
You can, of course, ask the fishmonger to gut and descale the fish for you.—Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Cite this Entry
“Descale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/descale. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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