Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCRUB, v.t. [Sw. skrubba, to scrub, to rebuke; Dan. skrubber. D. schrobben; G. schrubben. This word is probably formed on rub, or its root, and perhaps scrape, L. scribo, may be from the same radix; Ir. scriobam.]

To rub hard, either with the hand or with a cloth or an instrument; usually, to rub hard with a brush, or with something coarse or rough, for the purpose of cleaning, scouring or making bright; as, to scrub a floor; to scrub a deck; to scrub vessels of brass or other metal.