Scroyle (skroil), n. [Cf. OF. escrouselle a kind of vermin,
escrouelles, pl., scrofula, F. écrouelles, fr. (assumed) LL. scrofellae
for L. scrofulae. See Scrofula, and cf. Cruels.] A mean fellow; a
wretch. [Obs.] Shak.
Scrub (skrb), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scrubbed (skrbd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Scrubbing.] [OE. scrobben, probably of Dutch or Scand. origin; cf. Dan.
skrubbe, Sw. skrubba, D. schrobben, LG. schrubben.] To rub hard; to
wash with rubbing; usually, to rub with a wet brush, or with something
coarse or rough, for the purpose of cleaning or brightening; as, to
scrub a floor, a doorplate.
Scrub, v. i. To rub anything hard, especially with a wet brush; to
scour; hence, to be diligent and penurious; as, to scrub hard for a
living.
Scrub, n. 1. One who labors hard and lives meanly; a mean fellow. "A
sorry scrub." Bunyan.
We should go there in as proper a manner as possible; nor
altogether like the scrubs about us.
Goldsmith.