Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Scavanger,) Scawanger, Scafanger, Scaffinger, n. Also: skaffinger, skavienger. [e.m.E. scavenger (1530), scauinger (1563–83), AF scawageour (15th c. in OED).] A street-sweeper or rubbish collector. Also possess. with tax. 1466 Newburgh B. Ct. 8b.
Al the scawangeris of the tone ar in amerciment for faut of aperans 1608 Conv. Burghs II 253.
That … skaviengeris may be appointit … for carying furth … all sort of filth 1616 Irvine Mun. II 48.
Skaffingeris 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 82.
To meett … with Robert Leslie whom they have a mynd to elect as generall scaffinger [cf. Robert Leslie generall undertaker for cleangeing the streetts of this cittie; Ib. 84] 1690–3 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 435.
To the chamberman tuenty merks and to the scaffinger tuenty merkspossess. 1716 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 47.
For a years scafangers tax Ib.
Scaffingers tax