scarf Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
  2. noun a joint made by notching the ends of two pieces of timber or metal so that they will lock together end-to-end
    scarf joint.
  3. verb masturbate while strangling oneself
  4. verb unite by a scarf joint
  5. verb wrap in or adorn with a scarf

WordNet

Scarf noun
Etymology
Icel. skarfr.
Definitions
  1. A cormorant. Scot.
Scarf noun
Etymology
Cf. OF. escharpe a piligrim's scrip, or wallet (handing about the neck.), F. écharpe sash, scarf; probably from OHG. scharpe pocket; also (from the French) Dan. skiærf; Sw. skärp, Prov. G. schärfe, LG. scherf, G. schärpe; and also AS. scearf a fragment; possibly akin to E. scrip a wallet. Cf. Scarp a scarf.
Wordforms
plural Scarfs, rarely Scarves
Definitions
  1. An article of dress of a light and decorative character, worn loosely over the shoulders or about the neck or the waist; a light shawl or handkerchief for the neck; also, a cravat; a neckcloth.
    Put on your hood and scarf. Swift.
    With care about the banners, scarves, and staves. R. Browning.
Scarf transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Scarfed ; present participle & verbal noun Scarfing
Definitions
  1. To throw on loosely; to put on like a scarf. "My sea-gown scarfed about me." Shak.
  2. To dress with a scarf, or as with a scarf; to cover with a loose wrapping. Shak.
Scarf transitive verb
Etymology
Sw. skarfva to eke out, to join together, skarf a seam, joint; cf. Dan. skarre to joint, to unite timber, Icel. skara to clinich the planks of a boat, G. scharben to chop, to cut small.
Definitions
  1. To form a scarf on the end or edge of, as for a joint in timber, metal rods, etc.
  2. To unite, as two pieces of timber or metal, by a scarf joint.
Scarf noun
Definitions
  1. In a piece which is to be united to another by a scarf joint, the part of the end or edge that is tapered off, rabbeted, or notched so as to be thinner than the rest of the piece.
  2. A scarf joint.

Webster 1913