scourge

[ skurj ]

/ skɜrdʒ /

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.

Words nearby scourge

scotus, scoundrel, scoundrelly, scour, scourer, scourge, scouring pad, scouring rush, scourings, scouse, scout

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

3 plague, bane.

5 correct, castigate.

OTHER WORDS FROM scourge

scourg·er, nounscourg·ing·ly, adverbself-scourg·ing, adjectiveun·scourged, adjective

un·scourg·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for scourger

The convict “scourger” was one of the regular officials attached to every chain gang.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2|Various
Being transported to this country, he was employed as a scourger, and thus trained to cruelty, entered the bush.
The History of Tasmania , Volume II (of 2)|John West
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 Life|Marcus Clarke
There shall be given for a remedy the city of Claudius, which shall interpose the nurse of the scourger.
Old English Chronicles|Various

The sentence of the court was carried out by a scourger, sometimes called flagellator, or flogger.
The Book of the Bush|George Dunderdale

British Dictionary definitions for scourger

scourge

/ (skɜːdʒ) /

noun

a person who harasses, punishes, or causes destruction

a means of inflicting punishment or suffering

a whip used for inflicting punishment or torture

verb (tr)

to whip; flog

to punish severely

Derived forms of scourge

scourger, noun

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012