corrigia

thong, shoelace

1 / 1

A destructive locust swarm ravages a small crop field: insects visibly chew the remaining green leaves beside a broad patch of stripped, ruined stalks.

noun / verb

scourge

SKURJ/skɜːrdʒ/

A cause of severe suffering or punishment, or the act of inflicting it.

Etymology

sLatinout, away; also thoroughly

+courgeLatinthong, shoelace

A “thong,” with a possibly intensive prefix, became a whip used for punishment. The name then extended to a punishing affliction or to a person or thing that causes great suffering or destruction.

Full entry

Related word entries

scourge