I. ˈskau̇(-ə)r verb
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch schuren, from Old French escurer, from Late Latin excurare to clean off, from Latin, to take good care of, from ex- + curare to care for, from cura care
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to rub hard especially with a rough material for cleansing
b. : to remove by rubbing hard and washing
2. archaic : to clear (a region) of enemies or outlaws
3. : to clean by purging : purge
4. : to remove dirt and debris from (as a pipe or ditch)
5. : to free from foreign matter or impurities by or as if by washing
scour wool
6. : to clear, dig, or remove by or as if by a powerful current of water
intransitive verb
1. : to perform a process of scouring
2. : to suffer from diarrhea or dysentery
3. : to become clean and bright by rubbing
• scour·er noun
II. noun
Date: 1681
1. : a place scoured by running water
2. : scouring action (as of a glacier)
3. : diarrhea , dysentery — usually used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
4. : scouring 1 ; also : damage done by scouring action
III. verb
Etymology: Middle English scuren, skouren, probably from scour, noun, (in phrase god scour quickly), perhaps from Old Norse skūr shower; akin to Old English scūr shower — more at shower
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
: to move about quickly especially in search
transitive verb
: to go through or range over in or as if in a search