scavenger

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An animal that feeds on dead bodies or rotting matter.

   Vultures are natural scavengers that clean up carcasses.

2. 2
   noun

   A person who searches through discarded things for food or useful items.

   The scavenger sifted through the bins looking for scrap metal.

Originally from Middle English scavager, from Anglo-Norman scawageour (“one who had to do with scavage, inspector, tax collector”), from Old Northern French *scawage, escauwage (“scavage”), Old French *scavage, escavage, alteration of escauvinghe (compare Medieval Latin scewinga, sceawinga), from Old Dutch scauwōn (“to inspect, to examinate, to look at”). Usually reinterpreted/re-analysed today as scavenge (which was originally a backformation from this word) + -er. Compare Old English sċēawung (“a showing, spectacle, examination, inspection, toll on exposure of goods”) and Dutch schouwing (“i…

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