What is the Latin word for scrub?

The usual Latin words for “scrub” are improbus, nēquam, tergeō; also dētergeō, abstergeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“scrub” in Latin

improbusexcessive, immoderate, flagrant, impudent; greedy, wanton, ravenous; wicked, bad, villainous, immoral, impious, maliciou nēquamworthless, good-for-nothing; wretched, vile tergeōto rub, wipe, wipe off, clean, cleanse; to polish, burnish; to tickle, whet dētergeōto wipe off, wipe away, clean by wiping; to chase away, drive away, remove; to strip off, break off abstergeōto wipe off or away; dry by wiping; to wipe away, drive away, banish, expel, dispel

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

scrub s.

homo pusillus; frustum hominis (comedy; a little man, short in stature, etc.): homo malus, improbus, nequam (man of bad character).

scrub v.

tergere: detergere: abstergere: tergere et purgare

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for scrub?: The usual Latin words for “scrub” are improbus, nēquam, tergeō; also dētergeō, abstergeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.