See Also: scavenger(medicine)
scavenger(1)(dictionary)
scavenger(2)(dictionary)
scavenger cell(medicine)

scavenger(1) (iou)



scavenger noun. M16.
[Alt. of SCAVAGER from Anglo-Norman scawager, from scawage: see SCAVAGE noun, -ER1. For the intrusive noun cf. harbinger, messenger, etc.]
Hist.
a. = SCAVAGER. M16.
b. An official in the East India Company. E18.
a. A person employed to clean streets. M16.
b. fig. A person who does corrupt or disgusting work; a dishonourable person. M16.
c. A thing, esp. an animal, that feeds on carrion or refuse. Now also, a phagocytic cell. L16.
A person who collects discarded things, esp. for reuse; spec. (Hist.) a child employed in a spinning-mill to collect loose cotton lying about the floor or machinery. M19.
Chemistry. A substance or species which scavenges (sense 4b) free radicals or other species. M20.
Comb.: scavenger cell = PHAGOCYTE noun.; scavenger hunt a game in which people try to collect certain miscellaneous objects, usu. outdoors over a wide area; Scavenger's daughter = SKEVINGTON's daughter.
scavengery noun arrangements for cleaning streets and removing refuse etc.; the action of collecting and removing dirt: M17.