ˈscrouger
[f. scrouge v. + -er1.]
1. U.S. Anything exceptional in size, capacity, etc.; a ‘bouncer’.
| 1822 Amer. Beacon (Norfolk, Va.) 6 Sept. 4/1 The barge⁓men..are divided into classes, such as Tuscaloosa Roarers, Alabama Screamers, Cahawba Scrougers, and the like gentle names. 1837 Davy Crockett's Almanack Wild Sports 1838 I. iv. 13 He found me a real scrouger. I brake three of his ribs. 1847 Robb Squatter Life (Bartlett 1860), The gals among them warn't any of your pigeon critters,..but real scrougers; any of 'em could lick a bar easy. 1852 Haliburton Traits Amer. Humour xxi. (1866) 119 A drum, and a regular scrouger at that. |
2. A fishing-line fitted with several hooks used for illegal fishing (= scrodgill).
| 1897 Kipling Capt. Cour. viii. 157 A man..had been convicted of using a tackle with five or six hooks—a ‘scrowger’ they call it—on the Shoals. |