scavenger

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

English [edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:

Wikipedia en

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English scavager, from Old French scawageour (one who had to do with scavage, inspector, tax collector), from Old French *scawage, *scavage, escavage, escauwage (scavage), alteration of escauvinghe (compare also Medieval Latin scewinga, sceawinga), from Middle English schewing (inspection, examination), from Old English scēawung (reconnoitering, surveying, inspection, examination, scrutiny), equivalent to showing.

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /ˈskæv.ən.dʒə(ɹ)/, X-SAMPA: /"sk{v.@n.dZ@(r)/

Noun [edit]

scavenger (plural scavengers)

  1. (obsolete) A street sweeper.
  2. Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things.
  3. An animal that feeds on decaying matter such as carrion.
  4. (chemistry) A substance used to remove impurities from the air or from a solution.

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]