v. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To purge; as, to scour a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ I will ] stain my favors in a bloody mask,
Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To cleanse or clear, as by a current of water; to flush.

If my neighbor ought to scour a ditch. Blackstone. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To clean anything by rubbing. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cleanse anything. [ 1913 Webster ]

Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be purged freely; to have a diarrhoea. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To run swiftly; to rove or range in pursuit or search of something; to scamper. [ 1913 Webster ]

So four fierce coursers, starting to the race,
Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Diarrhoea or dysentery among cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of scouring. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. A place scoured out by running water, as in the bed of a stream below a fall.

If you catch the two sole denizens [ trout ] of a particular scour, you will find another pair installed in their place to-morrow. Grant Allen. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Refuse water after scouring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, scours. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A rover or footpad; a prowling robber. [ 1913 Webster ]

In those days of highwaymen and scourers. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. escourgée, fr. L. excoriata (sc. scutica) a stripped off (lash or whip), fr. excoriare to strip, to skin. See Excoriate. ] 1. A lash; a strap or cord; especially, a lash used to inflict pain or punishment; an instrument of punishment or discipline; a whip. [ 1913 Webster ]

Up to coach then goes
The observed maid, takes both the scourge and reins. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a means of inflicting punishment, vengeance, or suffering; an infliction of affliction; a punishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sharp scourges of adversity. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

What scourge for perjury
Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scourged p. pr. & vb. n. Scourging ] [ From Scourge, n.: cf. OF. escorgier. ] 1. To whip severely; to lash. [ 1913 Webster ]

Is it lawful for you to scourge a . . . Roman? Acts xxii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To punish with severity; to chastise; to afflict, as for sins or faults, and with the purpose of correction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb. xii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To harass or afflict severely. [ 1913 Webster ]

To scourge and impoverish the people. Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who scourges or punishes; one who afflicts severely. [ 1913 Webster ]

The West must own the scourger of the world. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Scorse. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]