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

Remaining coal-fired power plants now use "scrubber" technology that prevents these chemicals from forming.

From Science Daily

The study has been prompted by the ongoing discussion on a potential ban of scrubber water discharge -- where large volumes of polluted water is produced and discharged from the ships' exhaust gas cleaning systems.

From Science Daily

In the new study, the Chalmers researchers calculated both the external costs of scrubber water discharge, and the financial balance sheets of over 3,800 vessels that invested in the scrubber technology.

From Science Daily

"If the scrubbers had not existed, no ships today would have been allowed to run on this dirty residual fuel. That is why the scrubber issue is highly relevant to push the shipping industry towards less negative environmental impact," says Lunde Hermansson.

From Science Daily

In terms of the shipowner perspective, the researchers calculated the costs of installing and maintaining the scrubber systems, as well as the monetary gain from running the scrubber-equipped vessels on the cheaper and dirtier heavy fuel oil instead of the more expensive low-sulphur fuel alternatives.

From Science Daily