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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scouring cinder

Scour \Scour\ (skour), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scoured; p. pr. & vb. n. Scouring.] [Akin to LG. sch["u]ren, 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. [Perhaps a different word; cf. OF. escorre, escourre, It. scorrere, both fr. L. excurrere to run forth. Cf. Excursion.] 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.

  5. To cleanse or clear, as by a current of water; to flush.

    If my neighbor ought to scour a ditch.
    --Blackstone.

    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.