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scavenger
The definition of a scavenger is a person, animal or insect who takes what others have left or thrown away.
(noun)- An example of a scavenger is a vulture.
- An example of a scavenger is someone who takes usable items from dumpsters.
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See scavenger in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a person who gathers things that have been discarded by others, as a junkman
- any animal that eats refuse and decaying organic matter
- anything that removes impurities, refuse, etc.
- Chiefly Brit. a person employed to clean the streets, collect refuse, etc.
Origin: ME scavager < Anglo-Fr scawage, inspection < NormFr escauwer, to inspect < Fl scawen or Frank scouwon, to peer at, observe, akin to OE sceawian, show
See scavenger in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- One that scavenges, as a person who searches through refuse for food.
- An animal, such as a bird or insect, that feeds on dead or decaying matter.
- Chemistry A substance added to a mixture to remove or inactivate impurities.
Origin:
Origin: Alteration of Middle English scauager, schavager, official charged with street maintenance
Origin: , from Anglo-Norman scawager, toll collector
Origin: , from scawage, a tax on the goods of foreign merchants
Origin: , from Flemish scauwen, to look at, show
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