n. 1 a vegetation consisting mainly of brushwood or stunted forest growth. b an area of land covered with this. 2 (of livestock) of inferior breed or physique (often attrib.: scrub horse). 3 a small or dwarf variety (often attrib.: scrub pine). 4 US Sport colloq. a team or player not of the first class. scrub turkey a megapode. scrub typhus a rickettsial disease of the W. Pacific transmitted by mites. scrubby adj.
[ ME, var. of SHRUB(1) ]