ˈscavager
Also skavager.
[a. AF. scawager, f. scawage scavage n.: see -er2.
1307 in R. R. Sharpe Cal. Lett. Bk. C. City of London (1901) 151 note, Pro curia de scawageriis. 1419 Liber Albus (Rolls) 333 Lez scawageours averont iiii deniers pur chescun tile nusance issint remoez ou debrusez.]
† 1. An officer whose duty it was to take ‘scavage’, and who was afterwards also charged with the duty of keeping the streets clean. Obs.
| 1477–9 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 89 Item, paid to the Skauagers for the pament endited. viij d. 1536 City of Lond. Rep. ix. 183 b, in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. iii. 171 Item, for by cawse compleynt was made by one of þ⊇ scavagers of y⊇ Warde of Faryngdon, for kepyng of the stretes there vnclene. 1835 App. Munic. Corpor. Rep. ii. 845 Searchers for unwholesome Meat. Scavager to gather the Money. Gaoler. |
2. Used for scavenger 2. rare.
| 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour II. 218 The nominal wages of the scavagers. Ibid. 221, 252. |