scavage

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English scavage, schevage, schewage, from Anglo-Norman escavage, escauwage, alteration of earlier escauvinghe (“scavage”), from Middle English shewing, schewing (“inspection, examination, show”), from Old English sċēawung (“a looking at, seeing, contemplation, consideration, respect, regard, reconnoitering, surveying, inspection, examination, scrutiny, a spectacle, show, appearance, pretence, a showing, exhibiting, manifestation, toll on exposure of goods”), equivalent to show +‎ -ing.

Noun

scavage (countable and uncountable, plural scavages)

1. (historical) A toll or duty anciently exacted from merchant strangers by mayors, sheriffs, etc. for goods offered for sale within their precincts.

Etymology 2

Back-formation from scavager.

Verb

1. To act as a scavenger, to scavenge.