scavenger en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈskæv.ən.d͡ʒə(ɹ)/ (UK)
- (UK) audio
Etymology
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.
Meanings
-
Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things.
A scavenger picked through the rubbish heap.
garbage scavenger
-
An animal that feeds on decaying matter such as carrion.
Vultures are natural scavengers.
- (Ireland, UK, obsolete) A street sweeper.
- (Ireland, UK, historical) A child employed to pick up loose cotton from the floor in a cotton mill.
- A substance used to remove impurities from the air or from a solution.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| scavengers | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| skavenger | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
water scavenger beetle · white scavenger vulture · scavenger's daughter · scavenger hunt · scavenger sale · scavengerous · scavenger crab · scavengership · scaffy · scavengerism · bioscavenger · scavenger beetle
Translations (57)
br gagnaouaer (animal feeding on decaying matter) · de Mülldurchstöberer (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · de Spülmittel (substance to remove impurities) · es carroñero (animal feeding on decaying matter) · nl jutter (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · ru па́дальщик (animal feeding on decaying matter) · da skralder (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · ga bailitheoir (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · it razzolatore (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · es carroñera (animal feeding on decaying matter) · cmn 拾荒者 (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · fr charognard (animal feeding on decaying matter) · bg боклуджия (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · bg очистител (substance to remove impurities) · el πτωματοφάγο (animal feeding on decaying matter) · fi jätteiden keräilijä (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · it necrofago (animal feeding on decaying matter) · nn åtseletar (animal feeding on decaying matter) · es reciclador de base (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · fi haaskaeläin (animal feeding on decaying matter) · cs mrchožrout (animal feeding on decaying matter) · tl sasaid (animal feeding on decaying matter) · ru помо́ешник (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · pl padlinożerca (animal feeding on decaying matter) · de Abfalldurchstöberer (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · mk мршојадец (animal feeding on decaying matter) · pt carniceiro (animal feeding on decaying matter) · ar نَبَّاش (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · fi roskien keräilijä (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · pt catador (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · it spazzino (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · mi hamuhamu (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · yo aṣalẹ̀ (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · yo túlẹ̀túlẹ̀ (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · la colacarius (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · he אוכל נבלות (animal feeding on decaying matter) · pt necrófago (animal feeding on decaying matter) · es pepenador (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · es excavador (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · hu guberáló (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · ar قَمَّام (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · yo jòkújòkú (animal feeding on decaying matter) · es cartonero (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · ru поглоти́тель (substance to remove impurities) · cs vybírač popelnic (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · pl złomiarz (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · ko 청소 동물 (animal feeding on decaying matter) · es buzo (Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things) · sv asätare (animal feeding on decaying matter) · nb åtseleter (animal feeding on decaying matter) · sl mrhovinar (animal feeding on decaying matter) · de Aasfresser (animal feeding on decaying matter) · hu dögevő (animal feeding on decaying matter) · ca carronyaire (animal feeding on decaying matter) · it saprofago (animal feeding on decaying matter) · fr animal nécrophage (animal feeding on decaying matter) · nl aaseter (animal feeding on decaying matter)