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Added 9 October 2026

scavenger

/ˈskæv.ən.d͡ʒə(ɹ)/ noun

In Latin: colacarius Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scavenger at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities.
Someone who collects things that have been discarded by others.
Any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying organic matter.

Origin

Originally from Middle English scavager, from Anglo-Norman scawageour (“one who had to do with scavage, inspector, tax collector”), from Old Northern French *scawage, escauwage (“scavage”), Old French *scavage, escavage, alteration of escauvinghe (compare Medieval Latin scewinga, sceawinga), from Old Dutch scauwōn (“to inspect, to examinate, to look at”). Usually reinterpreted/re-analysed today as scavenge (which was originally a backformation from this word) + -er. Compare Old English sċēawung (“a showing, spectacle, examination, inspection, toll on exposure of goods”) and Dutch schouwing (“inspection”). More at show. See also messenger and passenger.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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