scarf

¹

[skahrf]

noun

plural

scarfs, scarves 

1. a long, broad strip of wool, silk, lace, or other material worn about the neck, shoulders, or head, for ornament or protection against cold, drafts, etc.

2. a necktie or cravat with hanging ends.

3. a long cover or ornamental cloth for a bureau, table, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or wrap with or as if with a scarf.

2. to use in the manner of a scarf.

scarf

²

[skahrf]

verb (used with or without object)

Slang.

1. to eat, especially voraciously (often followed by down orup ).

   to scarf down junk food.

scarf

³

Also scarph

[skahrf]

noun

plural

scarfs 

1. a tapered or otherwise-formed end on each of the pieces to be assembled with a scarf joint.

2. Whaling.,  a strip of skin along the body of the whale.

verb (used with object)

1. to assemble with a scarf joint.

2. to form a scarf on (the end of a timber).

3. Steelmaking.,  to burn away the surface defects of (newly rolled steel).

4. Whaling.,  to make a groove in and remove (the blubber and skin).

scarf

¹

/ skɑːf /

noun

1. Also called: scarf joint.  scarfed joint. a lapped joint between two pieces of timber made by notching or grooving the ends and strapping, bolting, or gluing the two pieces together

2. the end of a piece of timber shaped to form such a joint

3. a wedge-shaped cut made in a tree before felling, to determine the direction of the fall

4. whaling an incision made along a whale's body before stripping off the blubber

verb

1. to join (two pieces of timber) by means of a scarf

2. to make a scarf on (a piece of timber)

3. to cut a scarf in (a whale)

scarf

²

/ skɑːf /

noun

1. a rectangular, triangular, or long narrow piece of cloth worn around the head, neck, or shoulders for warmth or decoration

verb

1. to wrap with or as if with a scarf

2. to use as or in the manner of a scarf

Other Word Forms

• scarfless adjective
• scarflike adjective
• scarfer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarf¹

First recorded in 1545–55; of uncertain origin; perhaps special use of scarf ³

Origin of scarf²

An Americanism dating to 1955–60; variant of scoff ², probably a respelling by r-less speakers

Origin of scarf³

First recorded in 1490–1500; probably from Old Norse skarfr (derivative of skera “to cut”) “beveled edge, end cut from a beam” (hence perhaps “a piece of cloth cut off, a scarf”; scarf ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarf¹

C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian skarv, Swedish skarf, Low German, Dutch scherf _scarf ¹

Origin of scarf²

C16: of uncertain origin; compare Old Norman French escarpe, Medieval Latin scrippum pilgrim's pack; see _scrip ²

Example Sentences

Nearby, a giant minimalist statue of Pope John Paul II has been dressed in a Palestinian scarf.

Read more on BBC

His goal is to shift the narrative by "taking the scarves beyond fashion and tourism" and presenting them as "examples of Kashmir's history and resilience".

Read more on BBC

Whenever he throws a damp scarf into the audience, the women go so crazy you’d think it was the Shroud of Turin.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Always masked in a Palestinian scarf, he became an idol to Hamas supporters throughout the Middle East.

Read more on BBC

While a third person films their work and a young girl watches, racial slurs are heard being shouted as a woman wearing a head scarf walks past with a child.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bandanna 
• shawl 
• stole 

When To Use

Plural word for scarf

The plural form of scarf can be either scarfs or scarves, but scarves is more widely used. The plurals of some other singular words that end -f are also formed in this way, including leaf/leaves, elf/elves, and wife/wives. A similar change is made when pluralizing hoof as hooves. Irregular plurals that are formed like scarves derive directly from their original pluralization in Old English.