scrubber

¹ American  

[skruhb-er] / ˈskrʌb ər /

noun

1. a person who scrubs.

2. a device or process for removing pollutants from smoke or gas produced by burning high-sulfur fuels.

3. a machine or appliance used in scrubbing.

   an automatic floor scrubber.

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scrubber ² American  

[skruhb-er] / ˈskrʌb ər /

noun

1. a mongrel, especially a mongrel steer.

2. a thin or stunted steer.

3. Australian.

   1. an inhabitant of the bush.

   2. any domestic animal that has run off into the bush and become wild, especially a steer.

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scrubber ³ American  

[skruhb-er] / ˈskrʌb ɛr /

noun

British Slang.

1. a prostitute or promiscuous woman.

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scrubber ¹ British  

/ ˈskrʌbə /

noun

1. a person or thing that scrubs

2. an apparatus for purifying a gas

3. derogatory a promiscuous woman

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scrubber ² British  

/ ˈskrʌbə /

noun

1. a domestic animal, esp a bullock, that has run wild in the bush

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Etymology

Origin of scrubber¹

First recorded in 1830–40; scrub ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of scrubber²

First recorded in 1855–60; scrub ² + -er ¹

Origin of scrubber³

First recorded in 1955–60; variously explained as sense development of either scrubber ¹ (in the sense “a person who scrubs; charwoman,” or scrubber ² (in the Australian sense “(female) animal that runs into the bush and becomes wild”; compare earlier scrub in same sense

Example Sentences

In 2009 Old Spice introduced a pouf in a rubber grip and called it a Deck Scrubber.

From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2010

That said, we were anxious to throw a leg over the 2005 Bubba Scrubber...

From Time Magazine Archive

All the stowage was done by the crew under the direction of Jemmy the Scrubber, who proved himself as capable a stevedore as he was a seaman.

From The Log of a Sea-Waif Being Recollections of the First Four Years of My Sea Life by Bullen, Frank T.

Jemmy the Scrubber, unable to imbue the rest of his watch with his own restless activity, gave me no peace night or day.

From The Log of a Sea-Waif Being Recollections of the First Four Years of My Sea Life by Bullen, Frank T.