scalding vs smouldering

scalding

noun
  • An instance of scalding: a burn. 

  • Synonym of escaline, (particularly) the form circulated by Stephen de Fulbourn in Ireland as a debased form of the sterling silver penny, outlawed under Edward I of England. 

adj
  • Hot enough to burn. 

smouldering

noun
  • The act by which something smoulders; residual heat. 

adj
  • Burning slowly, producing smoke but no flame. 

How often have the words scalding and smouldering occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )