dregs

/ drɛɡz /

plural noun

1. solid particles that tend to settle at the bottom of some liquids, such as wine or coffee
2. residue or remains
3. slang.
   a despicable person

Word History and Origins

Origin of dregs¹

C14 dreg, from Old Norse dregg; compare Icelandic dreggjar dregs, Latin fracēs oil dregs

Example Sentences

It’s funny how this moment is bringing up those little dregs of work that I still need to do in that area.

From Los Angeles Times

Models suggest that the last dregs of the magma ocean crystallized into dense minerals including ilmenite, a mineral containing titanium and iron.

From Science Daily

Contacts in the Ukrainian military arranged to have these dangerous dregs of combat made safe for artistic repurposing: materiel as material.

From Los Angeles Times

Before the judgment starts, these lives were not the “dregs of society.”

From Seattle Times

“Please investigate the tofu dregs construction project!” said one internet user who identified herself as the aunt of one of the victims.

From New York Times