scourge
[skurj]
||
noun
a whip or lash, especially for the infliction of punishment or torture.
a person or thing that applies or administers punishment or severe criticism.
a cause of affliction or calamity: Disease and famine are scourges of humanity.
verb (used with object), scourged, scourg·ing.
to whip with a scourge; lash.
to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.
Origin of scourge
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French escorge, derivative of escorgier to whip < Vulgar Latin *excorrigiāre, derivative of Latin corrigia thong, whip (see ex-1); (v.) Middle English < Old French escorgier
Synonyms for scourge
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for scourger
Historical Examples of scourger
There shall be given for a remedy the city of Claudius, which shall interpose the nurse of the scourger.
Old English ChroniclesVarious
The convict “scourger” was one of the regular officials attached to every chain gang.
The sentence of the court was carried out by a scourger, sometimes called flagellator, or flogger.
The Book of the BushGeorge Dunderdale
Being transported to this country, he was employed as a scourger, and thus trained to cruelty, entered the bush.
If the scourger won't do his duty, tie him up, and give him five-and-twenty for himself.
For the Term of His Natural LifeMarcus Clarke
scourge
noun
verb (tr)
Word Origin for scourge
C13: from Anglo-French escorge, from Old French escorgier (unattested) to lash, from es- ex- 1 + Latin corrigia whip
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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scourge
scourge
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper