2198: scavenger Dec 21, 2020

The idea of a scavenger, be it regarding an animal or person, is not a positive one, and initially denoted a particular type of tax collector. Although 'scavenger' is older than 'scavage' (noun)—note the -n-, same as in message-messenger—'scavage' was a tax on goods sold by nonresidence in order to protect local prices. This scavenger had a secondary job of keeping the streets clean and hence the modern sense of collecting debris and refuse. This word is also related to the English 'show' insofar as these scavengers would have to take note of goods and detritus in the area.