despumer

A very rare, largely obsolete verb meaning to skim the scum or foam off a liquid (despumer un bouillon) — the older, more literary counterpart to the everyday écumer. Modern dictionaries mark it as dated or literary; a learner is unlikely to ever need it in practice.

• Le cuisinier despumait le bouillon avant de le servir. — The cook skimmed the broth before serving it.
• Il fallait despumer le sirop pendant la cuisson. — The syrup had to be skimmed during cooking.
• Autrefois, on despumait le vin pour le clarifier. — In the past, wine was skimmed to clarify it.

This word is essentially archaic — in any real kitchen today, a French speaker says écumer le bouillon, not despumer, so don't use this one in ordinary conversation.

Often confused with écumer.