scrubber

¹

[ skruhb-er ]

noun

1. a person who scrubs.
2. a device or process for removing pollutants from smoke or gas produced by burning high-sulfur fuels.
3. a machine or appliance used in scrubbing:

   an automatic floor scrubber.

scrubber

²

[ skruhb-er ]

noun

1. a mongrel, especially a mongrel steer.
2. a thin or stunted steer.
3. Australian.
   1. an inhabitant of the bush.
   2. any domestic animal that has run off into the bush and become wild, especially a steer.

scrubber

³

[ skruhb-er ]

noun

, British Slang.

1. a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

scrubber

¹

/ ˈskrʌbə /

noun

1. a person or thing that scrubs
2. an apparatus for purifying a gas
3. derogatory.
   a promiscuous woman

scrubber

²

/ ˈskrʌbə /

noun

1. a domestic animal, esp a bullock, that has run wild in the bush

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrubber¹

First recorded in 1830–40; scrub ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of scrubber²

First recorded in 1855–60; scrub ² + -er ¹

Origin of scrubber³

First recorded in 1955–60; variously explained as sense development of either scrubber ¹ (in the sense “a person who scrubs; charwoman,” or scrubber ² (in the Australian sense “(female) animal that runs into the bush and becomes wild”; compare earlier scrub in same sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrubber¹

C19: from scrub ²

Example Sentences

With civilization continuing to pump ever-increasing amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, perhaps plants — nature’s carbon scrubbers — might be able to package up some of that excess carbon and bury it underground for centuries or longer.

From Quanta Magazine

Find a scrubber designed for cleaning tile groutIf getting the spaces in between your kitchen and bathroom tiles is your main focus, you may not want an extendable power scrubber, because a less cumbersome device will do.

From Popular-Science

Most experts recommend using a mild cleaning formula along with your scrubber.

From Popular-Science

Features to look for in the best spin scrubberFinding the right spin scrubber for you means identifying the work you’ll be doing and the environment you’ll be doing it in.

From Popular-Science

The best power scrubbers generally offer telescoping arms, and heads that can be swapped out to fit your task.

From Popular-Science

The apparatus consequently supplies the place of the exhauster and the scrubber.

From Project Gutenberg

He walked over and pulled one of the brushes off the defunct scrubber and sudsed it up.

From Project Gutenberg

The scrubber is a vessel containing in its lower part water, W, supplied by a pipe, and having an overflow.

From Project Gutenberg

Here I am boxed up, like a scrubber in a pound, year after year—and years after that—for I don't know how long.

From Project Gutenberg

Jemmy the Scrubber, unable to imbue the rest of his watch with his own restless activity, gave me no peace night or day.

From Project Gutenberg