Noun

(en-noun)

Any serious injury to the body, often resulting from violence or an accident.

An emotional wound leading to psychological injury.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 14 , author=Steven Morris , title=Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=Jailing her on Wednesday, magistrate Liz Clyne told Robins: "You have shown little remorse either for the death of the kitten or the trauma to your former friend Sarah Knutton." She was also banned from keeping animals for 10 years.}}

An event that causes great distress.

Noun

(uncountable) A source of persistent trouble such as pestilence that causes pain and suffering or widespread destruction.

A means to inflict such pain or destruction.

* Shakespeare

What scourge for perjury / Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?

* {{quote-magazine, title=Towards the end of poverty

, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=11, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=America’s poverty line is $63 a day for a family of four. In the richer parts of the emerging world $4 a day is the poverty barrier. But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 ([…]): people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.}}

A whip, often of leather.

* Chapman

Up to coach then goes / The observed maid, takes both the scourge and reins.