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Scour vs Stour - What's the difference?

scour | stour |

As verbs the difference between scour and stour

is that scour is to clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously while stour is .

As nouns the difference between scour and stour

is that scour is the removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water while stour is a stake or stour can be (label) an armed battle or conflict.

As an adjective stour is

(now|rare|outside|dialects) tall; large; stout.

As an adverb stour is

severely; strongly.

scour

English

Alternative forms

* scower (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously.
    • He scoured the burner pans to remove the burnt spills.
  • To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off.
    • He scoured the burnt food from the pan.
  • * Shakespeare
    • [I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask, / Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it.
  • To search an area thoroughly.
    • They scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
  • (ambitransitive) To move swiftly over; to brush along.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • when swift Camilla scours the plain
  • * Dryden
    • So four fierce coursers, starting to the race, / Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace.
  • (veterinary medicine) Of livestock, to suffer from diarrhea.
    • If a lamb is scouring , do not delay treatment.
  • (veterinary medicine) To purge.
    • to scour a horse
  • (obsolete) To cleanse.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better.

    Derived terms

    * scourer

    Noun

    (-)
  • The removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.
    • Bridge scour may scoop out scour holes and compromise the integrity of the bridge.

    stour

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) stoor, . Compare also (l), (l).

    Alternative forms

    * stoor, stoore, stoure, (l), (l), (l), (l), (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (now, rare, outside, dialects) Tall; large; stout.
  • (now, rare, outside, dialects) Strong; powerful; hardy; robust; sturdy.
    • O stronge lady stoor , what doest thou? --Chaucer.
  • (now, rare, outside, dialects) Bold; audacious.
  • (now, rare, outside, dialects) Rough in manner; stern; austere; ill-tempered.
  • (now, rare, outside, dialects, of a voice) Rough; hoarse; deep-toned; harsh.
  • (now, rare, outside, dialects, of land or cloth) Stiff; inflexible.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Severely; strongly.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) stoure, stourre, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A stake.
  • A round of a ladder.
  • A stave in the side of a wagon.
  • A large pole by which barges are propelled against the stream; a poy.

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) stour, . More at (storm).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (label) An armed battle or conflict.
  • *, Book V:
  • *:Then there began a passyng harde stoure , for the Romaynes ever wexed ever bygger.
  • *1600 , (Edward Fairfax), The (Jerusalem Delivered) of (w), XII, xv:
  • *:This pair, who past have many a dreadful stour , / And proffer now to prove this venture stout, / Alone to this attempt let them go forth, / Alone than thousands of more price and worth.
  • (label) A time of struggle or stress.
  • *, I.ii:
  • *:Then gan she waile and weepe, to see that woefull stowre .
  • Tumult, commotion; confusion.
  • A blowing or deposit of dust; dust in motion or at rest.

    • Verb

    (en verb)

    • Anagrams

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