scavage

Meanings

1. A tax on non-resident merchant goods by city officials for resident merchant advantage, similar to a tariff.

1. To act as a scavenger, to scavenge.

Etymology

From Middle English scavage, schevage, schewage, from Anglo-Norman escavage, escauwage, alteration of earlier escauvinghe (“scavage”), from Middle English shewing, schewing (“inspection, examination, show”), from Old English sċēawung (“a looking at, seeing, contemplation, consideration, respect, regard, reconnoitering, surveying, inspection, examination, scrutiny, a spectacle, show, appearance, pretence, a showing, exhibiting, manifestation, toll on exposure of goods”), equivalent to show + -ing. Doublet of shewage.