scavenger

[ skav-in-jer ]

noun

1. an animal or other organism that feeds on dead organic matter.
2. a person who searches through and collects items from discarded material.
3. a street cleaner.
4. Chemistry. a chemical that consumes or renders inactive the impurities in a mixture.

scavenger

/ ˈskævɪndʒə /

noun

1. a person who collects things discarded by others
2. any animal that feeds on decaying organic matter, esp on refuse
3. a substance added to a chemical reaction or mixture to counteract the effect of impurities
4. a person employed to clean the streets

scavenger

/ skăv′ən-jər /

1. An animal that feeds on dead organisms, especially a carnivorous animal that eats dead animals rather than or in addition to hunting live prey. Vultures, hyenas, and wolves are scavengers.

Derived Forms

• ˈscavengery, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scavenger¹

1520–30; earlier scavager < Anglo-French scawageour, equivalent to ( e ) scawage inspection ( escaw ( er ) to inspect < Middle Dutch schauwen to look at (cognate with show ) + -age -age ) + -eour -or ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of scavenger¹

C16: from Anglo-Norman scawager, from Old Norman French escauwage examination, from escauwer to scrutinize, of Germanic origin; related to Flemish scauwen