scarf
scarf Lexical Profile
scarf Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A length or square of fabric worn around the neck, head, or shoulders for warmth, protection, or fashion.
"She wrapped a thick woolen scarf around her neck before stepping out into the biting winter wind."
A joint made by cutting or tapering the ends of two pieces of timber or metal and overlapping them to form a continuous, flush piece.
"The carpenter used a scarf to extend the length of the wooden beam without sacrificing structural integrity."
• verb
North American To eat or consume food greedily and rapidly (often used with 'down').
"He scarfed down his dinner in five minutes so he wouldn't miss the start of the movie."
To join two pieces of wood or metal by tapering their ends and overlapping them securely.
"The experienced shipwright scarfed the timbers together to repair the vessel's broken mast."
• Rhymes for scarf
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The word has multiple origins: the garment sense derives from Old French 'escharpe' (sash, sling), while the carpentry joint comes from Old Norse 'skarfr' (cut end of a plank). The colloquial verb meaning 'to eat quickly' likely originated in the 20th century as an alteration of the word 'scoff'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.