A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Scourer, n. Also: skowr-, skoor-, skur-. [Late ME scourour (1467), -er (c1515); Scour v.1]
1. a. One who scours, in sense 6 of Scour v.1 b. One who cleanses cloth, wool or clothes. Cf. Scouring vbl. n.1 2.a. 1603 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 673/1.
Officers trained vp in the accompts and seruice of the howse of owr late deceased soueraigne … Porters and skoorers [etc.] 1657 Balfour Ann. II 195.
Skurersb. 1601 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 313.
We must haif … scheirraris of clathe with the skowreris [etc.]
2. ‘A wad or sponge for cleaning out the bore of a gun’ (OED).1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 110.
Before a musquetier haue … cast about his musquet, charged, drawne out his scourer, shortened his scourer [etc.] 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 355.
2 scourers for pistolls 1685 Ib. 357.
A pistoll scourer [ed. scoures]
