SCRUB

I. noun Usage: often attributive see: shrub Date: 14th century 1. a stunted tree or shrub, vegetation consisting chiefly of ~s, a tract covered with ~, a domestic animal of mixed or unknown parentage and usually inferior conformation ; mongrel , a person of insignificant size or standing, a player not belonging to the first string, II. verb (~bed; ~bing) Etymology: of Low German or Scandinavian origin; akin to Middle Low German & Middle Dutch schrubben to ~, Swedish skrubba Date: circa 1595 transitive verb 1. a. to clean with hard rubbing ; scour , to remove by ~bing, to subject to friction ; rub , wash 6c(2), cancel , eliminate , intransitive verb to use hard rubbing in cleaning, to prepare for performing surgery by ~bing oneself, ~bable adjective III. noun Date: 1621 an act or instance of ~bing, 2. one that ~s, a powerful and especially cosmetic cleanser, loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff