Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Scour

Scour

(skour)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Scoured
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Scouring
.]
[Akin to LG.
schüren
, D.
schuren
,
schueren
, G.
scheuern
, Dan.
skure
; Sw.
skura
; all possibly fr. LL.
escurare
, fr. L.
ex
+
curare
to take care. Cf.
Cure
.]
1.
To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease, dirt, etc., as articles of dress.
2.
To purge;
as, to
scour
a horse
.
3.
To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off; to carry away or remove, as by a current of water; – often with off or away.
[I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask,
Which, washed away, shall
scour
my shame with it.
Shakespeare
4.
[Perhaps a different word; cf. OF.
escorre
,
escourre
, It.
scorrere
, both fr. L.
excurrere
to run forth. Cf.
Excursion
.]
To pass swiftly over; to brush along; to traverse or search thoroughly;
as, to
scour
the coast
.
Not so when swift Camilla
scours
the plain.
Pope.
Scouring barrel
,
a tumbling barrel. See under
Tumbling
.
Scouring cinder
(Metal.)
,
a basic slag, which attacks the lining of a shaft furnace.
Raymond.
Scouring rush
.
(Bot.)
See
Dutch rush
, under
Dutch
.
Scouring stock
(Woolen Manuf.)
,
a kind of fulling mill.

Scour

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To clean anything by rubbing.
Shak.
2.
To cleanse anything.
Warm water is softer than cold, for it
scoureth
better.
Bacon.
3.
To be purged freely; to have a diarrhoea.
4.
To run swiftly; to rove or range in pursuit or search of something; to scamper.
So four fierce coursers, starting to the race,
Scour
through the plain, and lengthen every pace.
Dryden.

Scour

,
Noun.
1.
Diarrhoea or dysentery among cattle.

Webster 1828 Edition


Scour

SCOUR

, v.t.
1.
To rub hard with something rough, for the purpose of cleaning; as, to scour a kettle; to scour a musket; to scour armor.
2.
To clean by friction; to make clean or bright.
3.
To purge violently.
4.
To remove by scouring.
Never came reformation in a flood with such a heady current, scouring faults.
5.
To range about for taking all that can be found; as, to scour the sea of pirates.
6.
To pass swiftly over; to brush along; as, to scour the coast.
Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain.

SCOUR

, v.i.
1.
To perform the business of cleaning vessels by rubbing.
2.
To clean.
Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better.
3.
To be purged to excess.
4.
To rove or range for sweeping or taking something.
Barbarossa, thus scouring along the coast of Italy -
5.
To run with celerity; to scamper.
So four fierce coursers, starting to the race, scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace.