Scavenger's daughter

Scavenger's daughter
Scavenger Scav"en*ger, n. [OE. scavager an officer with various duties, originally attending to scavage, fr. OE. & E. scavage. See {Scavage}, {Show}, v.] A person whose employment is to clean the streets of a city, by scraping or sweeping, and carrying off the filth. The name is also applied to any animal which devours refuse, carrion, or anything injurious to health. [1913 Webster]

{Scavenger beetle} (Zo["o]l.), any beetle which feeds on decaying substances, as the carrion beetle.

{Scavenger crab} (Zo["o]l.), any crab which feeds on dead animals, as the spider crab.

{Scavenger's daughter} [corrupt. of Skevington's daughter], an instrument of torture invented by Sir W. Skevington, which so compressed the body as to force the blood to flow from the nostrils, and sometimes from the hands and feet. --Am. Cyc. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Scavenger's daughter — Scavenger s daughter[dubious – discuss] The Scavenger s daughter was a type of torture device invented in the reign of King Henry VIII of England. Extant documents reveal, however …   Wikipedia

  • scavenger's daughter — ˈskavə̇njə(r)z noun Etymology: scavenger s gen. of scavenger (I), by wordplay from Leonard Skevington or Skeffington, 16th century lieutenant of the Tower of London, inventor of the instrument : an instrument of torture that so compressed the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • scavenger's daughter — an instrument of torture that doubled over and squeezed the body so strongly and violently that blood was brought forth from the ears and nose: invented in 16th century England. [1555 65; scavenger, alter. of the name of its inventor, Leonard… …   Universalium

  • scavenger's daughter — noun An old instrument of torture invented by Leonard Skevington …   Wiktionary

  • scavenger's daughter — instrument of torture that comprised of a broad iron hoop which was tightened around the victim s body by screws until blood came out from the nose and ears and often from the hands and feet …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Scavenger — Scav en*ger, n. [OE. scavager an officer with various duties, originally attending to scavage, fr. OE. & E. scavage. See {Scavage}, {Show}, v.] A person whose employment is to clean the streets of a city, by scraping or sweeping, and carrying off …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scavenger beetle — Scavenger Scav en*ger, n. [OE. scavager an officer with various duties, originally attending to scavage, fr. OE. & E. scavage. See {Scavage}, {Show}, v.] A person whose employment is to clean the streets of a city, by scraping or sweeping, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scavenger crab — Scavenger Scav en*ger, n. [OE. scavager an officer with various duties, originally attending to scavage, fr. OE. & E. scavage. See {Scavage}, {Show}, v.] A person whose employment is to clean the streets of a city, by scraping or sweeping, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scavenger (disambiguation) — Scavenger or scavenging can refer to: *Scavenger, an animal that feeds on carcasses *Scavenger (chemistry), a method of removing impurities *Scavenger (comics), two comic book characters *Scavenger (Transformers), characters in the Transformers… …   Wikipedia

  • The Scavenger Bride — Infobox Album | Name = The Scavenger Bride Type = Album Artist = Black Tape for a Blue Girl Released = 2002 Genre = Dark ambient Length = ?? Label = Projekt Records Last album = As One Aflame Laid Bare by Desire (1999) This album = The Scavenger… …   Wikipedia

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