'scrub' originates from Middle Dutch, specifically the word 'schrobben', where 'schrobben' meant 'to rub hard'.

'schrobben' transformed into the English word 'scrub' and eventually became the modern English word 'scrubbed' as its past tense and past participle form.

Initially, it meant 'to rub hard', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to clean by rubbing'.