scarf

¹ American  

[skahrf] / skɑrf /

noun

• scarfs,
  plural
• scarves
  plural

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.

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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 American  

[skahrf] / skɑrf /

verb (used with or without object)

Slang.

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

   to scarf down junk food.

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scarf ³ American  

[skahrf] / skɑrf /

Also scarph

noun

• scarfs
  plural

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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 British  

/ skɑːf /

noun

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

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verb

1. to wrap with or as if with a scarf

2. 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

• scarfer
  noun
• scarfless
  adjective
• scarflike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scarfs
  plural
• scarves
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scarf scarfs scarves

Bush, who is on bail, arrived at court with his face covered with a baseball cap and scarf.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

But wearing an England football scarf, Union Jack bucket hat and clutching a Paddington Bear, the showman energised a 75,000-strong, multi-generational crowd.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

The cotton scarf wrapped around his head is his main shield against the heat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

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

She had on a mask, a face shield, and a pretty scarf that covered her hair.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

How to get the look: Who, What, Wear, external says think about accessories - scarfs, crochet beanie caps or eye-catching hair clips, charms or cuffs.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Place your fresh pakoras onto a paper towel-lined platter and watch as you, or anyone near you, scarfs them down with the same voracity with which one would demolish a carton of McDonald's french fries.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2023

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

Fringe was woven throughout the pieces onto scarfs, clutches and mini dresses.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 15, 2023

She wore scarfs everywhere to cover her give-away hair.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston

Scattered along the walls of the studio were tidy heaps of scarves and mesh, rainbows of stripes, every shade of ballet pink, Uggs of every height.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

The sculpture has been installed close to where tributes - including flowers, scarves, and cards - were placed in the immediate aftermath of their deaths.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

Through her coaching service, Mann helps people explore wigs, scarves, or going completely bald, depending on their desires.

From Slate ● May 23, 2026

He spoke to AFP from the clubhouse filled with memorabilia that included scarves reading "Soccer Town USA" and a picture of Brazil legend Pele with a former club member.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

His eyes move down to the open drawer and silk scarves spilling over its sides.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

• bandanna
• shawl
• stole