scourn.1
/ˈskaʊə/, U.S. /ˈskaʊ(ə)r/ 1. The action of moving rapidly or going in haste; a run or rush. †Adverbial phrase good scour = with hasty movement, at a good pace (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > at a swift pace on foot [phrase]
good scoura1300
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > [noun] > running > a spell or act of
coursec1300
rena1325
racea1400
rinka1522
run1638
scour1820
a1300 K. Alis. 4276 To his ost he farith, good skour.
?a1799 J. Burness Thrummy Cap 31 Sae on they gaed at a gude scow'r.
1820 L. Hunt Indicator 26 Jan. 122 Robin..was a fine eager-looking dog, and seemed to have all his faculties ready for a scour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > [noun]
assault1297
venuea1330
scoura1400
wassailc1400
frayc1430
brunta1450
sault1510
onseta1522
attemptate1524
onsetting1541
breach1578
dint1579
objectiona1586
invasion1591
extent1594
grassation1610
attack1655
run1751
wrack1863
mayhem1870
serve1967
a1400 Rel. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. 96 Thane schalle erthe for erthe suffire scharpe scowrrys [v.r. schouris].
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle v. ii. sig. Eiiv Hodge. Was not wel blest gammer, to scape yt scoure.
3. The rush of a driving wind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > blowing > violently
blustering1530
bluster1582
hurling1582
scour1808
burly1876
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Skour of wind.
1906 G. A. B. Dewar Faery Year 65 The thrushes and blackbirds love the driving scour and the wind-rocked tree.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
scourn.2
/ˈskaʊə/, U.S. /ˈskaʊ(ə)r/ 1. An apparatus for washing auriferous soil. Cf. scour v.2 11d.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for treating ores > [noun] > for washing ore > for gold
scour1619
rocker1828
cradle1833
pan1835
Long Tom1839
Tom1839
wash-bowl1848
gold washer1849
sluice1851
wash-pan1851
tub1853
gold pan1854
mining pan1858
pan mill1869
Tommy1892
1619 Atkinson in W. Macfarlane Geogr. Coll. Scotl. (1908) III. 30 In all these places following..natural gold is to be found out, & you shall alwayes find skilfull seekers and discoverers thereof..for to use the Trough or Skower; but not very perfit in the Buddle.
1824 G. Chalmers Caledonia III. vi. viii. 733 The places where the gold mines were formerly wrought, at the gold scours, in the valley of the Elwan.
2. The action of a current or flow of water in clearing away mud or other deposit; in Civil Engineering, an artificial current or flow produced for this purpose; also, an engineering work constructed for the purpose of producing such a current. Also, the abrading or transporting action of a current of any other material.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > action of river > [noun] > structures to divert river current
scour17..
wing-dam1809
spur1818
training wall1852
training bank1855
training post1884
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > movement of material > [noun] > by wind, water, or ice > movement by water
washing?1473
scour17..
wash1835
rainwash1863
washing in1877
overwash1886
soil wash1926
17.. in T. Lediard Life Marlborough (1736) III. 438 The useless Refuse, took a cleansing Scour, Along the rapid Scheld's intrenched Shore.
1729 in C. Labelye Result View Great Level of Fens (1745) 39 Experienced Mechanick-Practice in making Drains, Sluices, Banks, Scours, &c.
1736 T. Badeslade New Cut Canal 5 Capt. Perry was making Sluices..to hold up Water to make a Scour, by the force of which he expected to drive the Sand to Sea and deepen that River.
1745 C. Labelye Result View Great Level of Fens 33 As to artificial Scours by means of Reservoirs, or relieving Basons or Sluices.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 146 The scour of the ebb-tide co-operates with the rapid flow of the river to sweep away any sediment.
1890 Engineer LXVIII. 452 There is a low water depth of only about 4 ft., but this is to be increased by about 20 ft. by dredging and scour.
1904 Jrnl. Geol. (Chicago) 12 575 With these destructional effects assigned to glacial agency, a novel possibility is at once suggested as to the part played in their persistent development by glacial scour, or coarse abrasion.
1909 Daily News 15 Dec. 9 A small piece of land at the far end of the reservoir..together with..15 manholes, one air valve, three scours in connection with the pipe line.
1933 C. Schuchert & C. O. Dunbar Textbk. Geol. (ed. 3) xix. 425 The ice and the scour of the last glaciers removed all weak materials.
1954 Jrnl. Geol. Soc. Australia 1 77 The wind scour is able to drive the sand into heaps which migrate slowly down wind.
1975 Offshore Sept. 49-17/1 Scour is probably the greatest menace to offshore structures and pipelines.
3. A place in a river where the bottom is scoured by the stream; a river-shallow with a gravel bottom.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > shallow part
glide1590
scour1689
rippling1745
ripple1755
1689 J. Chetham Angler's Vade Mecum (ed. 2) xli. 310 In March they shoot into the Scours to spawn.
1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling (ed. 2) 30 Angle..for pearches, in scours.
1833 Bowlker's Art of Angling (new ed.) 82 The haunts of Roach, during spring, are on the shallows and scowers.
1872 H. W. Taunt Map of Thames 21/2 Below are fine scours and deeps, affording good fishing.
4. Scottish. A hearty drink (of a beverage); a ‘swig’. Cf. scour v.2 11e.
ΚΠ
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) II. 167 If that her tippony chance to be sma' We'll tak a good scour o't, and ca't awa.
1728 A. Ramsay Robert Richy & Sandy 132 We'll take a scour o't to put aff our pain.
5. A kind of diarrhoea in livestock. Also plural (chiefly U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle, horse, or sheep > [noun] > disorders of cattle or sheep > diarrhoea
shiteOE
skitc1440
wood-evil?1523
moor-ill1556
ray1577
shoot1587
scouring1597
moor-evil1611
scour1764
rush?1771
mu-sickness1809
washiness1844
teart1896
Johne's disease1906
paratuberculosis1913
teartness1940
1764 Museum Rusticum 1 450 It actually gives, or inclines them to a scower (and other disorders well known to the shepherds).
1764 Museum Rusticum 2 9 A remedy for the white scour in sheep.
1802 A. F. M. Willich Domest. Encycl. IV. 60/2 The White Scour is an uncommon looseness, occasioned by feeding sheep on putrescent vegetables.
1848 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1847 507 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (30th Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 54) VI They say the disease called the ‘scours’ is the principal one to which sheep are liable.
1863 D. G. Mitchell My Farm of Edgewood 223 His calves will very likely take the ‘scours’.
1881 J. P. Sheldon Dairy Farming 61/2 An effectual preventive of ‘scour’, a malady from which young calves, when reared away from their mothers, are constantly liable to suffer.
1883 26th Ann. Rep. Maine Board Agric. 1882 25 Indigestion and scours, diseases which are very common among young calves.
1950 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. July 4/2 The [cow's] first milk known as colostrum or ‘beastings’ contains substances which increase a calf's resistance to scours.
1970 W. H. Parker Health & Dis. Farm Animals xvii. 226 In sheep the disease causes the same wasting but without the scour.
1973 M. R. Crowell Greener Pastures 16 Rameses II [sc. a sheep] has lately been having scours, or loose-bowel trouble.
1975 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Sept. 3/1 The hens..also appear to have a green scour.
1981 ‘E. Peters’ St. Peter's Fair i. 18 They're having trouble..with scour among the calves.
6. The detergent matter used in scouring wool.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing agents > [noun] > preparations for washing clothes
blue starch1592
blue1620
powder blue1628
bluing1652
smalt-blue1735
blue bag1818
Reckitt's blue1877
washing-blue1881
scour1888
Reckitt's bag blue1925
Reckitt's blue bag1925
soil-release1969
1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 657/1 The wool..was rinsed in a current of clean water to remove the ‘scour’.
7. An act of scouring, cleansing, or polishing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > scouring, scrubbing, or rubbing > [noun]
scouringa1398
scrub1621
scrubbing1749
brush1822
offscouring1896
scour1910
1910 N.E.D. at Scour Mod. colloq. Give the floor a good scour.
8. Australian and New Zealand. A building in which wool is scoured.
ΚΠ
1925 L. G. D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs (1930) 1st Ser. vi. 123 The Creek Station..was leased to T. P. Bartrum from 1879 onwards, and he established a wool scour there.
1934 T. Wood Cobbers xvi. 195 The scour was a long open shed on stilts, with sheep-pens leading into it and out of it.
Compounds
scour-hole n. a hole made in mud or sand by the scour of the tide.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > caused by erosion or water
wash-out1873
scour-hole1890
washaway1893
1890 R. Kipling City Dreadful Night 24 She sank there, and the next tide made a scour-hole on one side of her.
scour-way n. (see quot. 1895).
ΚΠ
1895 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. II. Scourway, Geol., a drainage-furrow caused by a strong current, as by a glacial river flowing over a gravel plain.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Caryophyllaceae (chickweeds and allies) > [noun] > soapwort
boritha1382
crowsoapa1400
saponera1400
foam-dockc1500
fuller's grass1526
saponary1526
scour-wort1548
soapwort1548
mock gillyflower1578
soapwort gentian1578
struthion1587
soap-weed1607
gill-run-by-the-street1640
candify1727
saponaria1865
bouncing-Bet1884
1548 W. Turner Names of Herbes sig. F.vj Radicula..if we had it here, it myghte be called in english sopewurt or skowrwurt.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
scourv.1
/ˈskaʊə/, U.S. /ˈskaʊ(ə)r/ 1. † c. (Without adverb.) To depart in haste, run away, decamp. (Chiefly colloquial or slang.) Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To move about hastily or energetically; esp. to range about in search of something, or in movements against a foe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > range about searching
scour1297
prowlc1395
foragea1774
skirmish1864
mouse1874
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and violently > rush around
scour1297
startlec1300
reelc1400
rammisha1540
gad1552
ramp1599
fling1620
to run rounda1623
rampage1791
to run around1822
to rip and tear1846
hella1864
running around like a chicken with its head cut off (also like a chicken with no head)1887
to haul ass1918
tear-arse1942
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (intransitive)] > move about hastily
scour1594
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 390 Corineus herwiþ harde smot & stured [MS. α scurede, β scured, γ scuryd] him aboute, & made is wey bi eiþer side & percede þe route.
1477 J. Pympe in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 417 In plesurys new yowr hert dooth soore and raunge So hye and ferre.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ix. l. 308 Skour weyll about for scoukaris in the se.
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie lxiii. 176 Lette him carie them [sc. the hounds] home vncoupled, that they may skoure at large and skommer.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia iv. i. 196 He that..fearles scowres in danger's coasts, T'enlarge his countries liberty.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 641 Barbarussa thus scouring alongst the coast of Italie,..strucke such an exceeding terrour into the minds of the citisens [etc.].
1615 T. Heywood Foure Prentises i. D 3 b Sirra go you and scoure about the hill.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Rev. iv. 6) Furnished with six wings apiece..to scoure about for the peoples benefit.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccxxiv. 196 There was a Freak took an Ass in the Head, to Scoure abroad upon the Ramble.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Scour about, to ramble or run raking about.
1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 323 While these intrepid Bands..out-fly the Storm, And scowring round, make Men and Beasts their Prey.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. ii. ii. 106 Furnishers scour in gigs, over all districts of France.
1865 A. Smith Summer in Skye I. 152 How John Kelly shouted and objurgated, and how his dog scoured about! [driving cattle].
1879 G. A. Sala in Daily Tel. 26 June The City authorities scoured fruitlessly about in quest of a new site for a debtors prison.
b. To move rapidly, go in haste, run. Chiefly with adverbs, indicating the direction, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > move swiftly [verb (intransitive)]
lakeOE
flyOE
runOE
scour13..
jace1393
hie1398
spina1400
fleetc1400
glentc1400
stripc1400
suea1450
carryc1450
speed1488
scud1532
streek1598
winga1616
to clip it1616
hackney1617
swifta1618
whirryc1630
dust1673
whew1684
race1702
stroke1735
cut1797
spank1807
skid1815
speela1818
crack1824
skimmer1824
slap1827
clip1832
skeet1838
marvel1841
lick1850
travel1850
rush1852
zip1852
sail1876
rabbit1887
move1906
high-tail1908
to ball the jack1914
buzz1914
shift1922
giddap1938
burn1942
hoosh1943
bomb1966
shred1977
13.. K. Alis. 3722 Lordynges, he saide, hit is nought to fleon! We buth the ost and the water bytwene... Hit is beter that we to heom schoure [Bodl. scoure], So longe so we may dure.
c1480 (a1400) SS. Simon & Jude 297 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 216 Þai wysmen þan scouryt þam faste.
1512 Helyas in W. J. Thoms Early Eng. Prose Romances (1858) III. 104 The swanne put him afore the shippe, the which he made to scoure upon the water in suche wise that they were anon ferre fro Lyleforte.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. B5v The Lady..From him fled away with all her powre; Who after her as hastily gan scowre.
a1600 Floddan Field (1664) iii. 23 The Scots anon they scoured in And plyed apace unto their prey.
a1630 Hist. Tom Thumb 410 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) II. 229 She took him up between her jaws, And scower'd up a tree.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 39 The Galley scowred away a maine course.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables lxxxiii. 81 They..Scoure off themselves and leave Those that Trust them to pay the Reck'ning.
1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo Comical Wks. (1709) 139 He scour'd after me as hard as he could.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 320 Away he scower'd, and left my Pilot..a compleat Victory.
1810 R. Southey Curse of Kehama xxiii. 249 Through the red sky terrific meteors scour.
1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain I. viii. 147 I..scoured on my way with more speed than before.
1851 T. Carlyle Life J. Sterling ii. iv. 175 Sterling..took to daily riding in summer; scouring far and wide on a swift strong horse.
1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi viii. 181 Dogs turn tail and scour off in dismay.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away suddenly or hastily
fleec825
runOE
swervea1225
biwevec1275
skip1338
streekc1380
warpa1400
yerna1400
smoltc1400
stepc1460
to flee (one's) touch?1515
skirr1548
rubc1550
to make awaya1566
lope1575
scuddle1577
scoura1592
to take the start1600
to walk off1604
to break awaya1616
to make off1652
to fly off1667
scuttle1681
whew1684
scamper1687
whistle off1689
brush1699
to buy a brush1699
to take (its, etc.) wing1704
decamp1751
to take (a) French leave1751
morris1765
to rush off1794
to hop the twig1797
to run along1803
scoot1805
to take off1815
speela1818
to cut (also make, take) one's lucky1821
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
absquatulize1829
mosey1829
absquatulate1830
put1834
streak1834
vamoose1834
to put out1835
cut1836
stump it1841
scratch1843
scarper1846
to vamoose the ranch1847
hook1851
shoo1851
slide1859
to cut and run1861
get1861
skedaddle1862
bolt1864
cheese it1866
to do a bunkc1870
to wake snakes1872
bunk1877
nit1882
to pull one's freight1884
fooster1892
to get the (also to) hell out (of)1892
smoke1893
mooch1899
to fly the coop1901
skyhoot1901
shemozzle1902
to light a shuck1905
to beat it1906
pooter1907
to take a run-out powder1909
blow1912
to buzz off1914
to hop it1914
skate1915
beetle1919
scram1928
amscray1931
boogie1940
skidoo1949
bug1950
do a flit1952
to do a scarper1958
to hit, split or take the breeze1959
to do a runner1980
to be (also get, go) ghost1986
a1592 R. Greene Alcida (1617) sig. H2 Wherevpon the mariners reioyced, hoising vp sailes, and thrusting into the maine, we scowred and returned home to the court.
1687 C. Sedley Bellamira Prol. Till all the Ladies and some Gallants scowre.
1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia Explan. Cant sig. Av To Scamper, to rubb, to scowre. To run away.
1688 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 486 Some of them that lay most obnoxious are scowring; several of which are taken and secured making their escapes.
1697 J. Vanbrugh Relapse iv. 76 No, no, fire over their Heads only to fright 'em, I'll warrant the Regiment scours when the Collonel's a Prisoner.
1753 S. Foote Englishman in Paris i. 14 How the Powder flew about, and the Monsieurs scour'd.
2.
a. transitive. To pass rapidly over or along (a tract of land or water); esp. to traverse in quest of something, or in order to capture or drive away a foe.Cf. scour v.2 8.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (transitive)] > traverse a distance or ground > rapidly
scourc1380
skirra1616
scud1632
bescour1837
to swallow up1890
to eat up1898
to burn up1909
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] > search (a place) > search through (a place)
upseekc1315
scourc1380
pickc1395
scumc1420
skirra1616
spin1972
society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > cause to march > march rapidly across (land or sea)
scourc1380
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 363 And þis lore shulden prestis lerne, and speciali hey prelatis, siþ þei shulden scure, [v.r. skoure] þe weie to þe oost þat comeþ aftir.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 216 Gif a franche knycht..had runnyn before Bordeaulx to scoure the contree, and tak prisouneris.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clxxxxiii. f. cxv This Edgar..vsed in the Somer tyme to scowre the See with certeyne Shyppes of warre.
1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. iii. f. 23v By that time such as were sent before to scowre the contrey, came in and reported.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 464 The king before he would take his voyage, sent the Erle of Huntyngdon to serche and scowre the Seas.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 833 The noble men..without any tariyng, scouryng the wayes as fast as their horses could runne.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia v. 79 Euen so our battails..Dyd scoure the plaines in pursuite of the foe.
1636 in 3rd Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1872) 73/2 You..may spare part [of your fleet] to scour the Channel to the Land's End westward.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 529 And Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure, Each quarter, to descrie the distant foe. View more context for this quotation
1776 S. Johnson Let. 5 Mar. (1992) II. 299 I know not but we may scour the country together, for I have a mind to see Oxford and Lichfield.
1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. iii. iii. 342 Their piratical countrymen..scoured those coasts, in quest of prey.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. v. v. 256 Patrols..scour the streets, all that night.
1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine (ed. 3) xi. 390 The sloping hills..scoured by herds of gazelles.
1885 C. F. Holder Marvels Animal Life 116 He went aloft, scoured the hold, examined the galley.
b. figurative. To run over in the mind, with the eye, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > consider, deliberate [verb (transitive)]
i-thenchec897
showeOE
i-mune971
thinkOE
overthinkOE
takec1175
umbethinkc1175
waltc1200
bethinkc1220
wend?c1225
weighc1380
delivera1382
peisea1382
considerc1385
musec1390
to look over ——a1393
advise?c1400
debatec1400
roll?c1400
revert?a1425
advertc1425
deliberc1425
movec1425
musec1425
revolvec1425
contemplec1429
overseec1440
to think overc1440
perpend1447
roil1447
pondera1450
to eat inc1450
involvec1470
ponderate?a1475
reputec1475
counterpoise1477
poisea1483
traversec1487
umbecast1487
digest1488
undercast1489
overhalec1500
rumble1519
volve?1520
compassa1522
recount1526
trutinate1528
cast1530
expend1531
ruminate1533
concoct1534
contemplate1538
deliberate1540
revolute1553
chawa1558
to turn over1568
cud1569
cogitate1570
huik1570
chew1579
meditatec1580
discourse1581
speculate1599
theorize1599
scance1603
verse1614
pensitate1623
agitate1629
spell1633
view1637
study1659
designa1676
introspect1683
troll1685
balance1692
to figure on or upon1837
reflect1862
mull1873
to mull over1874
scour1882
mill1905
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > close examination, scrutiny > scrutinize [verb (transitive)]
through-seekOE
gropea1250
to search outa1382
ensearch1382
boltc1386
examinea1387
ransackc1390
ripea1400
search1409
overreach?a1425
considerc1425
perquirec1460
examec1480
peruse?1520
grounda1529
study1528
oversearch1532
perscrute1536
scrute1536
to go over ——1537
scan1548
examinate1560
rifle1566
to consider of1569
excuss1570
ripe1573
sift1573
sift1577
to pry into ——1581
dive1582
rub1591
explore1596
pervestigate1610
dissecta1631
profound1643
circumspect1667
scrutinize1671
perscrutatea1679
introspect1683
rummage1690
reconnoitre1740
scrutinate1742
to look through1744
scrutiny1755
parse1788
gun1819
cat-haul1840
vivisect1876
scour1882
microscope1888
tooth-comb1893
X-ray1896
comb1904
fine-tooth comb1949
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > scan or look over
to look through ——?1536
to run over ——1555
overcast1570
to run over1571
pervise1577
transview1602
scour1909
1882 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper xxv. 300 Scour and scan me to thy content.
1883 Sunday Mag. July 432/2 I stand here scouring the universe with my imagination.
1909 M. Beerbohm Yet Again 69 You scour the list vaguely, and order a pint of 273.
3. spec. in 17th–18th century slang (cf. scourer n.1 2).
a. intransitive. To roam about at night uproariously, breaking windows, beating the watch, and molesting wayfarers.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > disorder or riot > riot [verb (intransitive)] > behave in disorderly fashion
woodwosea1400
rantipole1650
scour1673
bear-fight1884
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > make merry [verb (intransitive)] > noisy or riotous
revelc1390
ragea1400
roara1450
jet?1518
tirl on the berry?1520
roist1563
roist1574
revel1580
domineer1592
ranta1616
roister1663
scour1673
tory-rory1685
scheme1738
to run the rig1750
gilravagea1760
splore?a1799
spree1859
to go on the (or a) bend1863
to flare up1869
to whoop it up1873
to paint the town (red)1882
razzle1908
to make whoopee1920
boogie1929
to beat it up1933
ball1946
rave1961
1673 T. Shadwell Epsom-Wells ii. i You drink Burgundy perpetually and Scower as you call it.
1687 C. Sedley Bellamira iii. i, in Wks. (1778) II. 152 I went home drunk, and scour'd outragiously.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 358. ⁋1 There is no Inhabitant of any standing in Covent-Garden, but can tell you a hundred good Humours, where People have come off with little Blood-shed, and yet scowered all the witty Hours of the Night.
1717 M. Prior Alma iii. 233 From Milk~sop He starts up Mohack:..So thro' the Street at Midnight scow'rs: Breaks Watch-men's Heads, and Chair-men's Glasses.
1756 Gentleman's Mag. 26 37 As bees for honey range from flow'r to flow'r, From house to house I see Mundungus scow'r!
b. transitive. To ill-treat or ‘maul’ (the watch, wayfarers, etc.) while roistering in the streets.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > in a riot
rabble1661
scour1681
mob1696
small-gang1851
riot1886
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > [verb (transitive)] > spend (time) in riotous merrymaking > revel through (the streets) > ill-treat while
scour1681
1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar Prol. 39 sig. Av Scowring the Watch grows out of fashion wit.
1687 C. Sedley Bellamira iv. i, in Wks. (1778) II. 177 Mer. The house is beset: What's here, scourers?.. Cun. We'll scour 'em for a company of uncivil fellows, thus to disturb lovers at their innocent recreations.
1692 Scarronides ii. 33 Our Watch they scowre, and greet with ill-blows.
1723 Briton No. 19. 83 They got drunk,..scower'd the Watch, abused the Constable.
c. To roister through (the streets).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > disorder or riot > riot [verb (transitive)] > behave in disorderly fashion
scour1691
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > [verb (transitive)] > spend (time) in riotous merrymaking > revel through (the streets)
scour1691
1691 Comedy, Win her & Take Her i. i. 2 We'le scour ev'ry street And kick all we meet.
1753 Scots Mag. Oct. 491/2 We scoured the street after our nocturnal revel.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
scourv.2
/ˈskaʊə/, U.S. /ˈskaʊ(ə)r/ 1. † f. slang. To wear (fetters); to sit in (the stocks). Obsolete.
a. transitive. To cleanse or polish (metal, earthenware, wood, etc.) by hard rubbing with some detergent substance. Sometimes with adjective complement, as bright, clean. Also const. of, from (rust, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > scouring, scrubbing, or rubbing > scour, scrub, or rub [verb (transitive)]
ruokenc1275
scour?a1366
ruba1382
shorec1460
off-scour1578
scrubc1595
to rub up1605
hog1651
scummer1678
scurrifunge1789
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 540 Hir heer was as yelowe of hewe As any basin scoured newe.
c1440 Alphabet of Tales 223 Sho..wasshid dysshis & skowrid pottys.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xx. 313 Thei..scowred hauberkes and furbisshed swerdes and helmes.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 707/1 I scoure vessel, I make it bright and cleane.
1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas sig. H.ijv I see you Peerce, my glasse was lately scowrde.
1598 R. Hakluyt tr. Vincent of Beauvais in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) I. 62 They skowre them so bright that a man may behold his face in them.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 132 I was..in my Masters Kitchen, scowring of the Panns and the Spits.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 395 By dint of Sword his Crown he shall increase; And scour his Armour from the Rust of Peace.
1709 Female Tatler No. 4/3 When the Cook Maid's Sick, he'll..scowre down the Stairs.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses vii. 31 Grudging a quarter of a pound of Soap and Sand to scowre the Rooms.
1741 Mem. Martinus Scriblerus iii. 14 in A. Pope Wks. II The Truth was, the Maid..had scoured it as clean as her Andirons.
1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece II. xiv. 195 His slaves were scouring the vessels of gold and silver displayed on the sideboard.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair liv. 481 [He] passed by the scared female who was scouring the steps.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 193 The stone largely used for scouring paint is a lava of very porous texture.
b. figurative. Also with over, up (cf. ‘polish up’). Now rare (U.S.) or Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1300 Cursor Mundi 25867 Els moght moght na clensing fire þi saul skur to make it schirre.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28058 Þarfor ilkan i rede forloke þat þai..skir þam sua wit þair in-sight, þair conscience sua clene and bright, þat þai þar-in leue nakin thing þat ani nede haf o scuring.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iv. xli. 195 She leueth no thing þat she ne correcteth and skowreth and forbisheth.
c1450 Mirk's Festial 93 Wherfor þys tyme of Lenton ys ordeynt only to scowre and to clanse your concyens of all maner roust and fulþe of synne.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 1219 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 331 Þai..þat þame-self ofe syne wil scoure.
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cxix. 360 Skord cleane full out: thy word is seene: fine tride from drosse impure.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iv. xii. 197 Some few..who..are not so scowred of their former rust, as to forsake their auncient perswasion.
1608 J. Day Law-trickes sig. A3v How the daw Scoures ore his rustie phrases.
1611 Speed Chron. ix. xxiv. 871/2 [Q. Eliz. said] I haue been enforced this day to scowre vp my old Latine, that hath laine long in rusting.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 161 I will..scoure up that little Toscane language, which..shall be remaining unto me.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre i. v. 7 Heraclius..scoured bright an old holy-day with a new solemnitie.
1654 T. Fuller 2 Serm. 58 Such, who by Art and Education..have scoured over the dimme inscription of the Morall Law, that it appeareth plaine unto them.
1834 S. Smith Sel. Lett. Major Jack Downing xli. 104 He put on his regimentals and scoured up the old piece of a scythe that he used to have for a sword.
1870 J. P. Smith Widow Goldsmith's Daughter vii Being called back to scour up the pot-hooks, polish the crane, [etc.].
c. absol. or intransitive.
ΚΠ
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1906) viii. 11 Score so long on this plate till ye haue hadde awey all the blacke spottis.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 304 Item, she can wash and scoure . View more context for this quotation
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 248. ⁋5 The Wench in the Kitchen sings and scours from Morning to Night.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede II. iv. xxxii. 335 Listening to all manner o' gossip when they should be down on their knees a-scouring.
d. transitive (hyperbolically). To thrust (a sword, knife) in a person's body.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > cut or penetrate (of weapon) [verb (transitive)] > strike with pointed weapon > thrust a pointed weapon
putc1275
shovec1275
rivec1330
stickc1390
stub1576
haft1582
uphilt1582
gar1587
embosom1590
emboss1590
flesh1590
imbrue1590
stabc1610
scour1613
1613 J. Hayward William I 68 Encouraging one another..to scoure their swords in the entrailes of their enemies.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 138 Have ye a mind I should scour my knife between your ribs, as my mother says?
e. To clean the inside of (a gun) after firing.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > clean
scour1613
spongea1625
scale1784
1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle v. sig. I4v I made a shot euen now, partly to scoure her, and partly for audacity.
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. xiii. 61 Souldiers scowre your peeces.
1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid i. iii. 9 Even as Musquetieres are scouring their Musquets after much shooting.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > public or popular punishments > [verb (transitive)] > set in stocks or pillory
stockc1325
scourc1450
pillory?a1600
pillor1638
impillor1645
pillorize1647
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > bind, fetter, or shackle [verb (transitive)] > by the feet or legs > wear fetters
scourc1450
c1450 Mankind 634 in Macro Plays 24 Me semyth ȝe haue scoryde a peyr of fetters.
1533 J. Heywood Mery Play Pardoner & Frere sig. B.iv Thou shalt not escape me Tyll thou hast scouryd a pare of stokys.
1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Giiiv To skowere ye cramprings, to weare boltes or fetters.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Scoure, to wear.
g. U.S. Of a plough, to pass through the soil easily, without earth adhering to the mould-board; frequently in negative contexts. Also figurative, to succeed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)]
speedc1175
fayc1300
provec1300
flourishc1400
passc1425
prosper1434
succeedc1450
to take placea1464
to come well to (our) pass1481
shift?1533
hitc1540
walka1556
fadge1573
thrive1587
work1599
to come (good) speedc1600
to go off1608
sort1613
go1699
answer1721
to get along1768
to turn up trumps1785
to come off1854
pan1865
scour1871
arrive1889
to work out1899
to ring the bell1900
to go over1907
click1916
happen1949
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > ploughing > plough (of person) [verb (intransitive)] > of plough: plough > easily
scour1871
1871 Northern Vindicator (Estherville, Iowa) 6 May 3/1 The contemptible wretch who stole the collar to the saw at the steam mill a few weeks ago, has come to the conclusion that his meanness did not ‘scour’, as he anticipated, and hence he placed the collar under a board pile in town where it was discovered on Monday last.
1881 J. Periam Amer. Encycl. Agric. 742/2 In the average soil there [i.e. in eastern U.S.] the cast-iron plow would scour perfectly.
1887 W. H. Lamon in Washington Critic 3 Sept. 3/1 He [sc. Lincoln] said to me on stand, immediately after the [Gettysburg] speech: ‘Lamon, that speech won't scour. It is a flat failure, and the people are disappointed.’
1948 Sat. Evening Post 7 Feb. 109/1 Then his old moldboard plow wouldn't scour, and after we'd sharpened it he broke the beam.
h. transitive. To clean (metal) in tin-plate making or electroplating. (Cf. scouring n.2 2c.)
ΚΠ
1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. s.v. Scouring Plates of sheet iron used in the tinplate manufacture are scoured with sand and water to cleanse them, after preliminary immersion in dilute sulphuric acid.
1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) § 250 Scourer; cleans or scours, by dipping in acid baths and rubbing with tow, sheet metal articles in preparation for enamelling or japanning.
2.
a. transitive. To remove grease or dirt from (cloth, wool, silk, etc.) by some detergent process.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > wash clothes [verb (transitive)]
washc900
scour1467
neta1661
laundry1880
maid1882
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > treating or processing textile materials > treating or processing wool > treat or process wool [verb (transitive)] > clean
clack1429
scour1467
backwash1775
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > treating or processing textile fabric > treat or process textile fabric [verb (transitive)] > other processes
starch1390
scour1467
burl1483
waterc1500
calender1513
shoot1532
press1555
gum1612
reimbale1623
strike1701
bias1838
pad1839
spirit1854
bray1879
stream1883
crisp1892
block1905
Schreiner1905
mercerize1911
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [verb (transitive)] > other processes
twinec1300
weave1426
scour1751
gas1825
double-deck1842
pin-work1853
1467–8 Rolls of Parl. V. 630/1 The said Clothes..clene scowred, full dryed, and redy to the sale.
1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 32 Rescourer vne robe. Skowre agayn a goune.
1496 Coventry Leet Bk. 574 To scoure & fresche old bonettes.
1565 Act 8 Eliz. c. 11 §2 The same Cappe [shall] be first well scoured and closed upon the Banke.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xix. i. 5 There is a kind of Poppies much sought after for blaunching and bleaching of linnen cloths; for being skoured therewith, it is wonderfull how white and pure they will looke.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §362 In some Lakes the Water is so Nitrous, as if Foule Cloaths be put into it, it scoureth them of it selfe.
1683 J. Wilding in C. R. L. Fletcher Collectanea (1885) I. 257 For scouring my Coate 00 00 06.
1751 Chambers's Cycl. (ed. 7) at Dying Dying of thread is begun by scouring it in a lye of good ashes.
1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. iii. 107 When the cloth is woven, he sends it..to be ‘scoured’ and ‘fulled’.
1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 657/1 Stale urine was a favourite medium in which to scour wool.
b. absol. Also figurative.
ΚΠ
1624 F. Quarles Iob Militant Med. vi. 41 Teares, mingled with thy Blood can scower so, That Scarlet sinnes shall turne as white as Snow.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §362 Warme Water scoureth better than Cold.
3.
a. To wash vigorously (the hands, face, teeth); to ‘scrub’. Now only jocular.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > wash one's body or part of it [verb (transitive)] > wash vigorously
scour1589
1589 W. Warner Albions Eng. (new ed.) vi. xxx. 130 Vnto the Trough he hies, And skowres his coalie fists and face.
1602 T. Heywood How Man may chuse Good Wife iii. iii. F 4 He had a pound of sope to scowre his face.
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses vi. 72 They..gave him th'Oyl to scour his skin withal.
a1704 Compleat Servant-Maid (ed. 7) 65 To wash the Face, to keep it smooth and to scower it clean.
1712 J. Swift Midas 71 British Midas' dirty Paws; Which..the Senate strove to scour.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems xxxvii. 20 And teeth a native lotion hardly scours quite pure.
b. transferred. To cleanse (the teeth) by chewing some substance. Also, †to scour one's mouth on, to abuse, vilify.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > abuse [verb (transitive)]
vilea1300
rebutc1330
revilea1393
arunt1399
stainc1450
brawl1474
vituper1484
rebalk1501
to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542
rattle1542
vituperate1542
bedaub1570
beray1576
bespurt1579
wring1581
misuse1583
caperclaw1589
abuse1592
rail1592
exagitate1593
to shoot atc1595
belabour1596
to scour one's mouth on1598
bespurtle1604
conviciate1604
scandala1616
delitigate1623
betongue1639
bespatter1644
rant1647
palt1648
opprobriatea1657
pelt1658
proscind1659
inveigh1670
clapperclaw1692
blackguard1767
philippize1804
drub1811
foul-mouth1822
bullyrag1823
target1837
barge1841
to light on ——1842
slang1844
villainize1857
slangwhang1880
slam-bang1888
vituperize1894
bad-mouth1941
slag1958
zing1962
to dump on (occasionally all over)1967
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning or cleanliness of the person > clean the person [verb (transitive)] > clean the teeth
scour1598
floss1974
water-pick1976
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Let Aristophanes and his comedians make plaies, and scowre their mouthes on Socrates.
1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper I. 83 To eat cold beef, and drink strong beer for breakfast, and to scour his teeth after it with a quid of tobacco.
4. To cleanse (a wound, ulcer, the entrails of an animal) by treating with some medicament.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments removing or dispersing matter > remove or disperse [verb (transitive)] > cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.
roync1350
scoura1475
saluferize1894
a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 9 Take, wasshe þo isues of swannes anon, And skoure þo guttus with salt ichon.
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. Proheme f. iiii That they clense and skoure the woundes from all corruption.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 44 This vnguentum serueth well to clense and scower vlcers.
1796 Glasse's Art of Cookery (new ed.) xviii. 290 Take your eel and scour it well with salt.
5.
a. To clear out (a channel, ditch, drain, etc.) by removing dirt, weeds, etc. Also with out, †up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > clearing of refuse matter > clear of refuse [verb (transitive)] > clear drain
scour1412
flush1789
plonging1851
rod1897
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > dress animals for food [verb (transitive)] > disembowel or clean
scour1412
void1535
scald1565
paunch1570
hulk1622
viscerate1727
porge1773
clean1841
gralloch1848
1412–20 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy ii. 754 The canel skoured was so clene.
1519 Presentments of Juries in Surtees Misc. (1890) 31 The grett Inquest..commandes all wattersewers..be dykid and scoried by Withesonday.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlv Thanne scoure the olde dyche and cast it vp newe.
1579 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 403 The..ryvers..shalbe ryde and scowred.
1589 P. Ive Pract. Fortification 3 in tr. R. Beccarie de Pavie Instr. Warres It may haue the riuer turned into the ditch to skowre the ditch of any thing that may be cast into it.
1645 R. Symonds Diary (1859) 231 A large ditch..lately scowred and cast vp.
1657 G. Thornley tr. Longus Daphnis & Chloe (1893) 79 He scowred the Fountains, that the Water might be clear and transparent.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 55 Working hard to scour their Moats.
1740 J. Leaford Some Observ. S. Level Fenns 21 It is proposed..To scour out St. John's Eau, and lay the Earth on the Norfolk side.
1747 B. Franklin Let. in Wks. (1887) II. 81 I first scoured up my ditches and drains, and took off all the weeds.
1785 E. Burke Speech Nabob Arcot's Debts in Wks. (1906) III. 232 These watercourses again call for a considerable expense to keep them properly scoured and duly levelled.
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 433 The hedger now resumes his work of water-tabling and scouring ditches.
1886 Act 49 & 50 Vic. c. 49 §9 The Admiralty may..dredge scour and deepen the foreshore and bed of the sea within the said limits.
b. to scour a hedge (see quot. 1847).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > ditch [verb (transitive)] > deepen ditch
to scour a hedge1562
1562 Act 5 Eliz. c. 13 §5 The Hayes, Fenses, Dykes or Hedges..shall from time to tyme be diked, scoured, repaired and kept lowe.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Scour. (1) To scour a hedge, to deepen the ditch, and to breast up the hedge with the soil taken out. North.
6.
a. To clear out or cleanse by flushing with water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > clearing of refuse matter > clear of refuse [verb (transitive)] > by flow of water
scour1587
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1547/1 So as by the space of foure daies there could be no water reteined within the pent, to scowre the mouth of the hauen.
c1619 S. Atkinson Discov. Gold Mynes Scotl. (1825) 1 Sufficient water..for..scowring places..with which all sorts of earth are to be washed or scowred.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. xix. 339 If his land accosteth the sea, he considereth..what Keys are rusty with sands and shelves, and what are scoured with a free and open tide.
1839 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 2 86/1 The projection of this isle,..forcing the tide~wave southward, causes it to run northward, again, with great force, and scour out the Bay of Weymouth.
1847 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. (ed. 7) xix. 263 During other seasons of the year, the ocean makes reprisals, scouring out the channels.
b. with away, out: To form (a channel) by flushing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > erosion or weathering > erode [verb (transitive)] > cut channels or holes
gull1577
rout1726
wash1766
scour1773
gully1775
erode1830
gorge1849
ravine1858
ream1859
channel1862
canyon1878
to plough out1886
cañon1889
incise1893
runnel1920
1773 J. Hawkesworth Acct. Voy. Southern Hemisphere I. 53 There cannot be so great a lack of water, but must needs scowre a channell away at the ebbe deepe enough for shipping to goe in.
1887 T. N. Page In Ole Virginia 163 The river..scoured out a new bed for itself.
c. To clear or refresh (the throat) with liquor. Scottish.
ΚΠ
1787 W. Taylor Scots Poems Pref. 4 Upo' that hint I scour'd my rusty throat.
1801 W. Beattie Fruits Time Parings 11 Lat's see a drappie o' yer beer, To scour my crap.
7.
a. Of a medicine, or of one who administers it: To purge (an animal, a person, the body, etc.); to evacuate (the stomach or bowels). Also, to cleanse (worms, fish, etc.) by purging.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > practise veterinary medicine and surgery [verb (transitive)] > give specific treatment
scour1489
setter1551
rowel1566
drench1672
salt1898
fistulate1902
worm1932
deworm1934
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments removing or dispersing matter > remove or disperse [verb (transitive)] > purge
purge1340
loosec1400
physicc1400
scour1489
lask1540
loosen1587
vacuate1651
unload1653
clear1719
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 542 Thai eyt it with full gud will, That soucht na nother sals thar-till Bot appetyt, that oft men takys; For rycht weill scowryt war thar stomakys.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 35v At which tyme they are very good to skowre horses.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia iii. ii. 71 Like to a Curre that Carrion hath deuour'd, And cannot rest, vntill his mawe be scour'd.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 434 Ponds or Stewes..to feed Pikes and Tenches fat, and to scoure them from the strong and muddy fennish tast.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler vi. 138 A Lob or Garden worm, which should be wel scowred, that is to say, [kept] seven or eight dayes in Moss before you fish with them. View more context for this quotation
1656 J. Smith Compl. Pract. Physick 87 Clysters in great quantity if you would scowre the guts.
1691 Braggadocio iii. i. 35 I hate to have a puddle o' your Outlandish Nusance cloging my Stomach. Top. Puh.—a scouring Bottle of Pontack will scour it again, Mun.
1765 Treat. Domest. Pigeons 29 Pease, wheat, and barley are apt to scour your Pigeons too much.
1817 J. Mayer Sportsman's Direct. (ed. 2) 132 Scour them [sc. gentles] in sand, in a flannel bag.
1843 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 210 [He] immediately proceeded to scour him with the most potent medicines.
1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports i. v. ii. §3. 236/2 All these worms should be scoured, a process which consists in starving them, by placing them in damp moss.
1888 J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 72 This food..has a tendency to scour the animals.
b. absol. Of medicine or food: To act as a purge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > cleansing or expelling medicines > cleanse or expel [verb (intransitive)] > act as a purge
to mollify the belly1539
scour1597
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 261 Pellitorie of the wall..hath force to scoure and is somthing colde and moist.
1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden xx. 42 The ordinary great Celandine..scowreth and cleanseth effectually.
1884 Farm & Home 25 Oct. 275/2 Potatoes and middlings tend to scour.
c. reflexive. Chiefly of worms and fish: To become clean by purging.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > practise veterinary medicine and surgery [verb (reflexive)] > clean by purging (worms or fish)
scour1594
1594 H. Plat Jewell House 12 These wormes did first scoure themselves, either in mosse, lome, or bran.
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia Isagoge sig. D4v Pond-fish..are not so sweet as river fish, except they have been kept in rivers to scoure themselves.
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia sig. d6v Snailes..are best towards winter having scoured themselves.
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling iv. 85 Pike..spawn from March till May,..and, after a short rest,..scour themselves in the streams.
d. intransitive (for reflexive). To be purged. Of worms, fishes, etc.: To be cleansed by purging. Of livestock: To have diarrhoea.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > practise veterinary medicine and surgery [verb (intransitive)] > be cleansed by purging (worms or fish)
scour1592
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments removing or dispersing matter > remove or disperse [verb (intransitive)] > loosen bowels > be purged
scour1592
purge1596
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle, horse, or sheep > of cattle, horse, or sheep: have disorder [verb (intransitive)] > diarrhoea
scour1707
1592 R. Greene Repentance sig. D2 Al his paine was in his belly. And although he continually scowred, yet still his belly sweld.
1616 G. Markham tr. C. Estienne et al. Maison Rustique (rev. ed.) iv. xvi. 514 The wormes..will not onely liue long therein, but also scoure and feed.
1681 J. Chetham Angler's Vade Mecum iii. 22 The Dew preserves them [sc. baits] and makes them scour and thrive.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (1721) I. 242 If you turn Sheep into Wheat or Rye to feed, let it not be too rank..lest it make them Scowre.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Bait A dead Man's Skull beaten to powder for the Worms to scour in.
1764 Museum Rusticum 2 147 Those which had the lask, and scowered.
1909 Daily News 5 May 4 Young spring grass is about the worst food for calves, causing them to scour very badly.
8. figurative.
a. To rid, clear (a place, the sea, etc.) of or from an enemy or other undesirable occupants.Closely associated with scour v.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > fact of being unoccupied > leave unoccupied [verb (transitive)] > clear out > clear of something undesirable > of undesirable people
scoura1400
vent1613
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 475 He..schurd [Gött. skourd, Trin. Cambr. scoured] þat curt o þam sa clene, þat sithen þar sted was neuer sene.
1530 St. German's Secunde Dyaloge Doctour & Student xlvii. f. cxxviv As lorde of the narowe see ys bounde..to scoure the see of pyrattes.
1596 M. Drayton Mortimeriados sig. R 2 Some Norway Haggard..through the aire, right down the wind doth scower.
1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle v. sig. K1 And like a sort of true-borne Scauingers, scoure me this famous Realme of enemies.
a1627 J. Hayward Ann. Four Years Elizabeth (1840) 49 He was appointed to skowre the seas from unlawfull adventurers.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 98 It is the Catwals Business with a Guard of near Two hundred Men, to scower the Streets..of idle Companions.
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 4 Maintaining the ways in good repair, and scouring them from Arabs, and Robbers.
1716 B. Church Entertaining Passages Philip's War i. 53 Church received a Commission..to Scoure the Woods of some of the lurking Enemy.
1783 W. Thomson in R. Watson & W. Thomson Hist. Reign Philip III vi. 409 This..contributed not a little to scour the sea from the pirates.
1826 W. Scott Jrnl. 23 Oct. (1939) 254 He might have done well there, could he have scourd his brains of politics.
1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) (at cited word) To scour the country means to clear the country of the enemy for miles around.
b. (of a devastating plague).
ΚΠ
1607 J. Davies Summa Totalis sig. H2 The Plague (which late our Mother-Citty scour'd And erst the Kingdome made halfe desolate!).
9. figurative. To beat, scourge. Hence, to punish, treat severely.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > corporal punishment > administer corporal punishment [verb (transitive)] > whip or scourge
swingc725
scourc1386
whipc1386
lash1398
bescourgea1400
swaipa1400
flail14..
belash1458
stripec1460
leash1503
flagelle1551
swingea1556
breech1573
lace1599
flagellate1623
slash1631
chawbuck1682
innocentize1708
swepe1710
belace1736
screenge1787
yedder1818
stock-whip1852
rawhide1858
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋596 He..broghte a yerde to scoure with the child.
c1400 Rule St. Benet 1536 Þe nouices, whils þai er ȝing Aw to be scorid for swilk a thing.
c1425 J. Lydgate Testament in Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 255 Of the yeerde somtyme I stood in awe, To be scooryd that was al my dreede.
c1440 Alphabet of Tales 259 He tuke a wand and skowrid þaim bathe.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 737 Ȝa! thys hard balys on þi bottokkys xall byte!..cum vp, ȝe horsons, and skore a-wey þe yche!
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. D3v Ile teach ye to impeach honest men: stand by, Ile scowre you for a goblet.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. i. 54 And you fall foule with me Pistoll, Ile scoure you with my Rapier in faire termes.]
1662 S. Pepys Diary 4 Feb. (1970) III. 23 We shall scowre him for it.
1730 H. Fielding Author's Farce i. vii. 12 But I'll pay the Dog—I'll scour him.
10. To sweep or rake (a place, position, a body of men, etc.) with gunshot. Also, to command (a position, etc.) with one's guns.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > assail with gunfire > rake
scour1563
rake1596
overrake1599
berake1685
enfilade1706
sweep1748
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > management of artillery > operate (artillery) [verb (transitive)] > range (a target) > have within range
scour1563
sweep1748
1563 W. Cothe in 15th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1899) App. ii. 32 Our steple..on the which stoode iii fayre Demi-Colveryns to skowre the topp of the hills.
1578 T. Nicholas tr. F. Lopez de Gómara Pleasant Hist. Conquest W. India 320 Cortes unshipped three peeces of ordinance to scoure the Cawsey, which was full of enemies.
1589 P. Ive Pract. Fortification 11 in tr. R. Beccarie de Pavie Instr. Warres That the artillerie which shoulde scoure the front of yt one Bulwarke might lye couered in the other Bulwarke.
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 304 The South part..is well defended with Casemats, the better to scoure the Curtaine.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Double Marriage ii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Dddd/2 How many saile of wel man'd ships before us,..Have we pursued and scowerd.
1704 London Gaz. 4082/3 The Ditch is doubly Palisadoed, with very good Flanks within, to scour the Moat when they enter.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Scour the length of a Line, to rake a Line from end to end with the Shot, so that every Bullet which comes in at one end, sweeps all along to the other.
1781 T. Simes Mil. Guide (ed. 3) 12 Small parties of light cavalry to scour the flanks.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. at Firing Street Firing is the method of firing adopted to defend or scour a street, lane, or narrow pass of any kind.
1866 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. IX. xx. 355 He ordered up heavy artillery and scoured the woods with grape.
11. To remove, get rid of. Chiefly with adverbs, as away, off, out.† e. To drink off (a health). Obsolete. Scottish. (Cf. scour n.2 3.)
a. To remove (rust, dirt, etc.) by cleansing or hard rubbing. Also figurative.
ΚΠ
c1410 J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (?1484) lxv. k j He came for our sauacion To scoure aweye the rust of al our blame.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 450/2 Scowryn [Winch. MS. scoryn] a-wey ruste, erugino, erubigino.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. ii. 137 I will..staine my fauors in a bloudy maske, Which washt away shall scoure my shame with it. View more context for this quotation
1631 R. Sanderson Serm. II. 15 The stains will not easily (if at all) be scoured off again.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xv. 461 He would often speak, that there was much of good in the order of Bishops, if the dross were scour'd off.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. xi. 285 The face or hands..begrimed with that mysterious sort of filth, which, as soon as you have, with great difficulty, scoured it away, returns again and again.
1866 R. Redgrave & S. Redgrave Cent. Painters II. 605 Many a one whose qualifications consist only in the reckless impudence with which he dares to use the spirit or the alkali to scour off dirt and art together, places a half-washed portrait in the window, and dubs himself a restorer.
b. To drive (an enemy, etc.) out of the land.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > expel
afferreOE
warpc1000
outdriveOE
wreakc1100
to cast out1297
to cast fortha1382
out-chasec1395
flecchea1400
to shoot forth, out, awaya1400
propel?1440
expulse?a1475
scour1488
out-thrust1532
to catch forthc1540
propulse1548
pulsec1550
unplant1552
to turn out of ——1562
extrude1566
detrude?1567
eliminate1568
deturbate1570
detruse1571
unroost1598
to put by1600
deturb1609
bolt1615
run1631
disembogue1632
out of1656
expel1669
rout1812
to manage (a person) out of1907
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vii. l. 16 How thai suld tak on hand The rychtwys blud to scour out of Scotland.
a1600 Floddan Field (1664) viii. 73 The gray gooswing did work such greif, And did the Scots so skoure and skaile.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 287 After that Scanderbeg had thus..scoured the Turks out of euery corner of Epirvs.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. iii. 58 What Rubarb, Cyme, or what Purgatiue drugge Would scowre these English hence.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. iii. 365 King Saul, who had formerly scoured Witches out of all Israel.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 112 Fullers earth, a precious ware is daily scowred hence, though by law forbidden to be transported.
c. To discharge, evacuate, purge away (a humour, disease, excrement, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > defecation or urination > defecation > [verb (transitive)]
shita1382
to defy out1382
deliver?a1425
cack1485
evacuate1542
scour1577
shoot1594
foil1599
exstercorate1609
to dung outa1642
move1645
cast1704
to do one's doings1957
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments removing or dispersing matter > remove or disperse [verb (transitive)] > disperse, etc., humours or morbid matter
cleansec1000
resolvea1398
slaya1400
dissolvec1400
evacuec1400
mundify?a1425
repel?a1425
attenuate1533
evacuate1533
discuss?1537
divert?1541
extenuate1541
intercide?1541
educe1574
scour1577
attray1579
clenge1582
divertise1597
derive1598
revel1598
display1607
draw1608
incide1612
correct1620
fuse1705
lavage1961
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > cleansing or expelling medicines > cause excretion of [verb (transitive)] > cleanse or purge
laxa1398
scour1577
laxate1623
work1713
flux1756
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 190v It scowreth away the collections of a Plurisie beginning.
1620 T. Venner Via Recta vii. 157 It concocteth and scowreth downwards crude and phlegmaticke humors.
a1625 J. Fletcher Chances iii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Bbb2v/1 Has given me a dam'd Glister,..Has almost scour'd my guts out.
1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden ciii The same stamped with Honey..consumeth and scoureth away the Ulcers of the Head.
1694 P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais Pantagruel's Voy.: 4th Bk. Wks. iv. xliii They sow..but..Wind-flowers,..herbs that may make One break wind to the purpose, these scowre them off carefully.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. iv. 84 There are Horses which put off, or scour off their Meat (as we say) very fast.
d. To remove or clear away by flushing with water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > clearing of refuse matter > clear of refuse [verb (transitive)] > by flow of water > clear (refuse) by flow of water
scourc1582
c1582 T. Digges in Archaeologia 11 227 Beache..vnder the Sowthern jawe of the haven mowth..by the force of the Master Sluce shall allway be scowred and remooued.
1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax sig. D8v By turning a streame of water on the micksons, he scoured away that in a week, that an hundred coulde scant haue doon in a yere.
1619 Atkinson in W. Macfarlane Geogr. Coll. Scotl. (1908) III. 31 Their usual manner is, when they seek for Gold..to frame or make a long seuch or scowring place into which they bring the stream of water, to scowr away the light earth from the heavy sandy earth.
1849 C. Lyell 2nd Visit U.S. (1850) II. 152 The tide enters far up each channel, scouring out mud and sand.
ΚΠ
1718 A. Ramsay Christ's-kirk on Green iii. 27 He..scour'd aff Healths anew, Clean out that Day.
f. To clean (wheat) from dust, etc., before milling. (Cf. scouring n.2 2b.)
12. To scrape (leather) in order to remove the flesh or the bloom.
ΚΠ
1860 Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 5) II. 687 In this apartment also is placed a large, flat, slate stone, called a scouring-stone, or, more consistently, the stone on which the leather is scoured.
1860 Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 5) II. 689 In respectable manufactories, it is usual first to scour on the flesh.
1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 387/2 These [sc. brushes and pieces of slate or thin stone], with a small jet of water, scour and brush the entire surface of the leather lying on the platform, effectually scouring out bloom and all soluble impurities.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† scourv.3
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To divulge, reveal, disclose.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
1585 A. Munday tr. L. Pasqualigo Fedele & Fortunio sig. B1 Heare you Maister Fortunio..Doo but scoure your minde to mee, and shut vp your greef: Either Ile finde you some ease, or you shalbe hangd for a theef.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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