offscouring

[ awf-skouuhr-ing, -skou-er-, of- ]

noun

1. Often offscourings. something scoured off; filth; refuse.
2. a social outcast.

Word History and Origins

Origin of offscouring¹

1520–30; off + scour ¹( def ), + -ing ¹( def ), after verb phrase scour off

Example Sentences

They were the despised and rejected, the wretched and the spat upon, the earth’s offscouring; and he was in their company, and they would swallow up his soul.

From Literature

The offscouring of all London flocked to the Sunday services as to a public entertainment.

From Project Gutenberg

Thou cut-purse, thou low ruffian, terror of old women, thou offscouring of man.

From Project Gutenberg

His instrument of conversion is “the foolishness of preaching;” “the weak things of the earth confound the strong;” “we hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no home;” “we are reviled and bless, we are persecuted, and blasphemed, and are made the refuse of this world, and the offscouring of all things.”

From Project Gutenberg

Disciple Nevertheless it is very grievous to be generally despised of the World, and to be trampled upon by men as the very offscouring thereof.

From Project Gutenberg