Scour, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scoured; p. pr. & vb. n. Scouring.]
Etymology: [Akin to LG. schüren, D. schuren, schueren, G. scheuern, Dan. skure; Sw. skura; all possibly fr. LL. escurare, fr. L. ex + curare to take care. Cf. Cure.]
1. To rub hard with something rough, as sand or Bristol brick, especially for the purpose of cleaning; to clean by friction; to make clean or bright; to cleanse from grease, dirt, etc., as articles of dress.
2. To purge; as, to scour a horse.
3. To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off; to carry away or remove, as by a current of water; -- often with off or away. [I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask, Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it. Shak.
4. Etym: [Perhaps a different word; cf. OF. escorre, escourre, It. scorrere, both fr. L. excurrere to run forth. Cf. Excursion.]
1 more senses
To pass swiftly over; to brush along; to traverse or search thoroughly; as, to scour the coast. Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain. Pope. Scouring barrel, a tumbling barrel. See under Tumbling. -- Scouring cinder (Metal.), a basic slag, which attacks the lining of a shaft furnace. Raymond. -- Scouring rush. (Bot.) See Dutch rush, under Dutch. -- Scouring stock (Woolen Manuf.), a kind of fulling mill.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Scour, v. i.
1. To clean anything by rubbing. Shak.
2. To cleanse anything. Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better. Bacon.
3. To be purged freely; to have a diarrhoea.
4. To run swiftly; to rove or range in pursuit or search of something; to scamper. So four fierce coursers, starting to the race, Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace. Dryden.
Scour, n.
Diarrhoea or dysentery among cattle.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for scour; he lists it under cleanse.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.