Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) something or someone large or forceful.

1832		Spirit of the Times (NY) 31 Mar. 2/3: [of a fish] First the gentle nibble, and then the desperate lunge of a real ‘scrowger’.
1840		N.O. Picayune 31 Oct. 2/1: Get ready for a scrouger, boys [DA].
1847		J.S. Robb Streaks of Squatter Life 106: The gals among ’em warn’t any on your pigeon creaturs, that a fellow dassent tech for fear of spilin’ ’em, but raal scroungers—any of ’em over fourteen could lick a bar, easy.
c.1852		Traits of Amer. Humour 265: A drum, and a regular scrouger at that [F&H].
1861		R.H. Newell Orpheus C. Kerr I 230: We had one of the she-critters aboard—and she was a scrouger, I tell ye! [DA].
1874		J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 127: The tearful ones on their way to the burying-place looked as little like pothouse ‘scrougers’ as the Sandboys looked a likely place for scrouging in.