scarf

scarf¹

—scarfless, adj. —scarflike, adj.

/skahrf/, n., pl. scarfs, scarves /skahrvz/, v.

n.

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.; muffler.

2. a necktie or cravat with hanging ends.

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

v.t.

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

5. to use in the manner of a scarf.

[1545-55; perh. special use of SCARF²]

scarf²

—scarfer, n.

/skahrf/, n., pl. scarfs, v.

n.

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.

v.t.

3. to assemble with a scarf joint.

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

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

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

Also, scarph (for defs. 1, 3, 4).

[1490-1500; < ON skarfr (deriv. of skera to cut) end cut from a beam (hence perh. a piece of cloth cut off, i.e., SCARF¹); cf. Sw skarv patch]

scarf³

/skahrf/, v.t., v.i. Slang.

to eat, esp. voraciously (often fol. by down or up): to scarf down junk food.

[1955-60, Amer.; var. of SCOFF², with r inserted prob. through r-dialect speakers' mistaking the underlying vowel as an r-less ar]

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