scavenger

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English scavager, from Anglo-Norman scawageour (“one who had to do with scavage, inspector, tax collector”), from Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 2 should be a valid language, etymology language or family code; the value "ONF." is not valid. See WT:LOL, WT:LOL/E and WT:LOF., escauwage (“scavage”), Old French *scavage, escavage, alteration of escauvinghe (compare Medieval Latin scewinga, sceawinga), from Old Dutch scauwōn (“to inspect, to examinate, to look at”). Compare Dutch schouwing (“inspection”). More at show.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈskæv.ən.dʒə(ɹ)/

Noun

scavenger (plural scavengers)

  1. Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things.
  2. An animal that feeds on decaying matter such as carrion.
  3. (UK, obsolete) A street sweeper.
  4. (UK, historical) A child employed to pick up loose cotton from the floor in a cotton mill.
  5. (chemistry) A substance used to remove impurities from the air or from a solution.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

scavenger (third-person singular simple present scavengers, present participle scavengering, simple past and past participle scavengered)

  1. (archaic) To scavenge.
  2. (archaic) To clean the rubbish from a street, etc.

Further reading

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