scarf
1 Americannoun
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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.
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a necktie or cravat with hanging ends.
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a long cover or ornamental cloth for a bureau, table, etc.
verb (used with object)
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to cover or wrap with or as if with a scarf.
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to use in the manner of a scarf.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a tapered or otherwise-formed end on each of the pieces to be assembled with a scarf joint.
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Whaling. a strip of skin along the body of the whale.
verb (used with object)
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to assemble with a scarf joint.
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to form a scarf on (the end of a timber).
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Steelmaking. to burn away the surface defects of (newly rolled steel).
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Whaling. to make a groove in and remove (the blubber and skin).
noun
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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
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the end of a piece of timber shaped to form such a joint
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a wedge-shaped cut made in a tree before felling, to determine the direction of the fall
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whaling an incision made along a whale's body before stripping off the blubber
verb
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to join (two pieces of timber) by means of a scarf
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to make a scarf on (a piece of timber)
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to cut a scarf in (a whale)
noun
verb
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to wrap with or as if with a scarf
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to use as or in the manner of a scarf
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
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”; see scarf 1)
Explanation
A scarf is a wide piece of fabric that's worn around the neck or over the head. That long, warm, wooly thing you wrap around your throat in the winter is a scarf. In the 1500s, a scarf was a "band worn across the body," from the Old French escherpe, "pilgrim's purse suspended from the neck." Today, a scarf can take many forms, from an itchy wool scarf to a head covering worn for religious reasons to a silk scarf tied jauntily around the throat. As a verb, scarf means "eat hungrily." You might scarf down some pizza, then put on your scarf and head back into the snow.
Vocabulary lists containing scarf
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I took a photo of my yellow raffia bag, the handle tied with an Hermès horse scarf that once belonged to my maternal grandmother.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
I didn't want viewers to be distracted from the stories we were covering by me either having a bald head, or wearing a scarf.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
In addition to getting swole AF, those who scarf down a bowl of this cereal can enjoy a boost in energy, better recovery, stronger bone health and enhanced cognitive function.
From Salon ● May 23, 2026
Jimmy Connors used to scarf a Snickers bar between sets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
I thought she meant the laundry until she tied a scarf around her hair.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
The foodbank will also be asking for items like socks, scarfs and gloves to give people an "extra little surprise" in their Christmas parcel.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2025
The KCU, whose members are known for their red scarfs, was set up to promote the North's political ideology including "Juche", or self reliance.
From Reuters ● Jun. 7, 2023
Family, friends, mountaineers and government officials gathered at the funeral ground, offering flowers and scarfs that were place on her remains, which were then rested on a stack of wood.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 2, 2022
Ringing the stadium are vendors in rickety wooden stalls who do a lively trade in black-and-red scarfs, hats, shirts and wristbands stamped Atlas campeón, some with the dates 1951-2021.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2022
She wore scarfs everywhere to cover her give-away hair.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
Spain quarterfinal ended Friday, the In-N-Out near SoFi had a long line of soccer fans stretching out the door in bright red and yellow and black jerseys and matching striped hats and scarves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
A trans-Atlantic celebrity since the ’60s, Hockney cut a dandyish figure with rakish touches such as floppy bow ties, scarves, caps and pocket squares.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
When it comes to the crunch, however, the band are as tight-knit as Sakura's head scarves and the story of their album is one of solidarity.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Through her coaching service, Mann helps people explore wigs, scarves, or going completely bald, depending on their desires.
From Slate ● May 23, 2026
It was wintertime, and Auggie and I were wrapped in our parkas and scarves while we played outside in the playground.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
