▪ I. scourer1
(ˈskaʊərə(r))
Forms: 5 skoverour, skowrrour, skouriour, scorer, -ar, 6 scurer, skourer, 6–8 scowrer, 8 scowerer, 5– scourer. See also scurrier.
[In sense 1 orig. aphetic f. discoverer (OF. descouvreor); afterwards confused with the agent-n. f. scour v.1 + -er1.]
† 1. One sent out to reconnoitre; a scout or avant-courier; = discoverer 2 and scurrier.
| a 1400 Morte Arth. 3118 Than skyftes þes skouerours, and skippes one hyllis, Discoueres for skulkers that they no skathe lymppene. c 1470 Henry Wallace iii. 103 Send twa skowrrouris to wesy weyll the playne. Ibid. iv. 431 Set skouriouris furth the contre to aspye. c 1471 Arriv. K. Edw. IV (Camden) 28 The Kynge..sent afore hym his forrydars and scorars, on every syde hym. c 1500 Melusine xxx. 224 Thenne he loked on the ryght syde vpon a lytel mountaynne & sawe the grete batayll, and sawe the watche and the scourers al about the oost. 1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. ii. Wks. 1181/2 Out was our scurer sent agayn,..to shew wher aboute y⊇ place was. 1553 Brende Q. Curtius H vij, By the spring of the day the scourers that he sent before to discover, returned to him wyth reporte that Darius was comming. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Antecursor, a fore runner,..a scourer. 1579 Digges Stratiot. 109 To give order that the Scowrers come not out of the fielde till the Trumpet sounde. 1826 Hor. Smith Tor Hill (1838) I. 39 The scourers now took the lead, looking vigilantly around them. |
2. In the 17th–18th c.: One who made a practice of roistering through the streets at night, beating the watch, breaking windows, etc.
| 1672 Wycherley Love in Wood v. ii, No Burgundy man or drunken Scourer will reel my way. 1684 Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 120 Several lusty fellows..pull'd down some of the railes before Ball: Coll: and broke windowes in S. Giles and Magd. parishes. These they call ‘Scourers’. 1691 Shadwell (title) The Scowrers. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 276 ¶3 [He] has been, he tells me, a Scowrer, a Scamperer, a Breaker of Windows. 1716 Gay Trivia iii. 325 Who has not heard the Scowrer's Midnight Fame? 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xi. III. 58 In those days of highwaymen and scourers. |
3. One who ranges over (land or sea).
| 1878 B. Harte Hoodlum Band ii, Who but the Pirate Prodigy—the relentless Boy Scourer of Patagonian seas? |
▪ II. scourer2
(ˈskaʊərə(r))
Also 5 scourour, 6 skourer, 6–8 scow(e)rer, 7 skowrer.
[f. scour v.2 + -er1.]
One who, or a thing which, scours.
1. a. One who polishes or cleanses by hard rubbing. Used esp. as the designation of certain servants in the Royal Household.
| 1576 in Nichols Progr. Eliz. (1823) II. 39 Ten services to the Porters and Skowrers of all sides. 1647 Haward Crown Revenue 32 Six Porters, and Scourers, Larges at Easter:—5 . 0 . 0. 1662 Comenius' Janua Ling. Triling. 103 The sword-cutler [maketh] swords, which the scourer furbisheth. 1669 E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. 317 Three Turn⁓broaches, each 18l. 5s. Two Scowrers, each 18l. 5s. 1767 S. Paterson Another Trav. I. 209 So scowerers assist painting, and plaisterers mend statuary. 1840 Thackeray Catherine ii, A small person..acted as scourer, kitchen-wench, and scullion. 1901 Westm. Gaz. 18 Apr. 12/2 The ‘Kitchen Staff’ comprised a chief cook.., two assistant cooks, four scourers, three kitchenmaids. |
b. fig. (with new). One who furbishes afresh or renovates.
| 1554 T. Martin Marr. Priests ii. B j, Oure menne (beinge but newe scourers of their olde heresie). |
2. One who cleans wool, cloth, clothes, etc.
| 1574 Life Abp. Parker B vij b marg., His Father was an honest poore man, a scourer or Calender of worsteddes of Norwich. 1688 Lond. Gaz. No. 2328/4 One Zechariah Pickford,..a Scowrer by Trade,..is lately gone away with a Cantoon grey cloth Bed. 1756 Foote Engl. ret. fr. Paris i. Wks. 1799 I. 102 Carry..his coat to a scowrer's. 1832 Marryat N. Forster xxxi, Bottlecock and Co., Dyers, Callenderers, and Scourers. 1886 Lond. Gaz. 5 Jan. 68/1 Dyer and Scourer—Robert Pullar, Perth. |
3. One who cleans out drains, etc.
| c 1515 Masser scourer [see masser2]. 1536 in Gentl. Mag. (1813) May 427 John Wylkynson of Busshopgate strete in London, scourer of synks. 1540 MSS. Dk. Rutland (Hist. MSS. Comm.) IV. 309 Maser scowrer. 1902 C. G. Harper Cambridge Road 206 The main drains are scoured by ‘scourers’. |
4. An implement or contrivance for scouring or scrubbing.
| 1859 Rep. Comm. Patents 1858 (U.S.) I. 378 Scourer G, blast spouts EF, and fan C, [are] combined and arranged relatively with each other. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl., Scourer, a form of grain cleaner in which the berry is subjected to a rubbing action to remove all extraneous matters. 1885 Harper's Mag. Jan. 276/2 Hides brought to the currying..are put under a ‘scourer’, a machine constructed of a number of diminutive wheels, which are made to move powerfully and swiftly over the yet damp hide. |
† 5. A wad or sponge for cleaning out the bore of a gun; a ramrod fitted with such a contrivance.
| 1467 Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls (Bundle 43, No. 14), 1 posnet, 1 scourour, et 1 ladell. 1591 Garrard's Art Warre 4 His scowrer must be trimmed on the end with a Lynnen cloth. 1611 Cotgr., Esqueuillon, a Spunge, or Scourer for a peece of Ordnance. 1616 J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. v. 249 With ladles, chargers, skowrers, carthridges. 1631 in Rymer Fœdera XIX. 315 For a new Musket with Mould, Worm and Scowrer. ol. xvs. vid. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4455/4 Fine Triangle Worms.., experienc'd for drawing of Balls out of Pieces, with Scowerers and Washers to them. 1711 Milit. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4), Rammer, or Scourer, is a Rod belonging to all Fire-Arms..serving to thrust down the Powder and Ball. |
6. A purgative agent, a cathartic.
| 1719 Quincy Compl. Disp. 96 Spleenwort..has..been reckon'd..a Scowrer of the Spleen. 1840 D. P. Blaine Encycl. Rural Sports §3113. 1002 The process of worm scouring is somewhat mechanical... Sound moss is the best scourer. |