Definitions for: Scavenger


[n] any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying organic matter
[n] someone who collects things that have been discarded by others
[n] a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities



Webster (1913) Definition: Scav"en*ger, n. [OE. scavager an officer with
various duties, originally attending to scavage, fr. OE. & E.
scavage. See Scavage, Show, v.]
A person whose employment is to clean the streets of a city,
by scraping or sweeping, and carrying off the filth. The name
is also applied to any animal which devours refuse, carrion,
or anything injurious to health.

Scavenger beetle (Zo["o]l.), any beetle which feeds on
decaying substances, as the carrion beetle.

Scavenger crab (Zo["o]l.), any crab which feeds on dead
animals, as the spider crab.

Scavenger's daughter [corrupt. of Skevington's daughter],
an instrument of torture invented by Sir W. Skevington,
which so compressed the body as to force the blood to flow
from the nostrils, and sometimes from the hands and feet.
--Am. Cyc.

Synonyms: magpie, pack rat

See Also: animal, animate being, beast, brute, chemical agent, creature, fauna, hoarder

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