scour
English
/ˈskaʊə/, /ˈskaʊɚ/
verb
Definitions
- (transitive) To clean, polish, or wash something by rubbing and scrubbing it vigorously, frequently with an abrasive or cleaning agent.
- (transitive) To remove debris and dirt by purging; to sweep along or off (by a current of water).
- (transitive) To clear the digestive tract by administering medication that induces defecation or vomiting; to purge.
- (ambitransitive) To (cause livestock to) suffer from diarrhoea or dysentery.
- (transitive) To cleanse (without rubbing).
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English scǒuren, scouren (scour, polish, whip, clean, beat) derived from Middle Dutch scuren derived from Old French escurer derived from Latin scūrō derived from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeys- (heed, observe).
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*kʷeys-
Gloss
heed, observe
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- nonscourable English
- scourable English
- scourage English
- scourer English
- scourest English
- scoureth English
- kuurata Finnish
- cūra Latin
- cūriōsus Latin
- ex- Latin
- excurare Latin
- scūrō Latin
- scheuern German
- afschuren Dutch, Flemish
- schuieren Dutch, Flemish
- schuren Dutch, Flemish
- schuurmiddel Dutch, Flemish
- schuurpapier Dutch, Flemish
- *derḱ- Proto-Indo-European
- *kʷeys- Proto-Indo-European
- skura Swedish
- चुर् Sanskrit
- scourer Middle English
- scǒuren, scouren Middle English
- escurer Old French
- schuren Middle Dutch
- scuren Middle Dutch
- schiuren Middle High German
- *ad-kʷiseti, *kʷiseti Proto-Celtic
- *derk- Proto-Celtic
- schuren Middle Low German
- *kʷoizā Proto-Italic
- šurowaś Lower Sorbian