Link Centre Dictionary

scavenger

sca·ven·ger

UK/ˈskæv.ən.d͡ʒə(ɹ)/ US/ˈskævʌndʒɜr/ uncommon archaic obsolete uk

noun

1.

a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities

2.

someone who collects things that have been discarded by others

Synonyms
3.

any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying organic matter

Origin

Originally from Middle English scavager, from Anglo-Norman scawageour (“one who had to do with scavage, inspector, tax collector”), from Old Northern French *scawage, 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”). Usually reinterpreted/re-analysed today as scavenge (which was originally a backformation from this word) + -er. Compare Old English sċēawung (“a showing, spectacle, examination, inspection, toll on exposure of goods”) and Dutch schouwing (“inspection”). More at show. See also messenger and passenger.

Phrases

  • scavenger beetle
  • scavenger crab
  • scavenger hunt
  • scavenger sale
  • scavenger's daughter
  • water scavenger beetle
  • white scavenger vulture

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.