A scarf is a piece of cloth that you wear round your neck or head, usually to keep yourself warm.
He reached up to loosen the scarf around his neck.
Synonyms: muffler, stole, headscarf, comforter More Synonyms of scarf
scarf in British English1
(skɑːf)
nounWord forms: pluralscarves (skɑːvz) or scarfs
1.
a rectangular, triangular, or long narrow piece of cloth worn around the head, neck, or shoulders for warmth or decoration
verb(transitive) rare
2.
to wrap with or as if with a scarf
3.
to use as or in the manner of a scarf
Word origin
C16: of uncertain origin; compare Old Norman French escarpe, Medieval Latin scrippum pilgrim's pack; see scrip2
scarf in British English2
(skɑːf)
nounWord forms: pluralscarfs
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. New Zealand
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
verb(transitive)
5.
to join (two pieces of timber) by means of a scarf
6.
to make a scarf on (a piece of timber)
7.
to cut a scarf in (a whale)
Word origin
C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian skarv, Swedish skarf, Low German, Dutch scherfscarf1
scarf in American English1
(skɑrf)
nounWord forms: pluralscarves (skɑrvz) or scarfs
1.
a long or broad piece of cloth worn about the neck, head, or shoulders for warmth or decoration;muffler, babushka, neckerchief, etc.
2.
a long, narrow covering for a table, bureau top, etc.; runner
3.
a sash worn by soldiers or officials
verb transitive
4.
to cover or drape with a scarf
Word origin
NormFr escarpe (OFr escharpe), a purse suspended from the neck, wallet < ML scirpa, scrippa, earlier scirpea, rush pouch or basket < L scirpeus, of rushes < scirpus, a rush, bulrush
scarf in American English2
(skɑrf)
nounWord forms: pluralscarfs
1.
a joint made by notching, grooving, or otherwise cutting the ends of two pieces and fastening them so that they lap over and join firmly into one continuous piece
: also called scarf joint
2.
the ends of a piece cut in this fashion
verb transitive
3.
to join by a scarf
4.
to make a scarf in the end of
Word origin
prob. < Scand, as in ON skarfr, obliquely cut beam-end < IE *skerp- < base *(s)ker-, to cut > shear
scarf in American English3
(skɑrf)
US
verb transitive
Slang
to consume greedily
often with down or up
Word origin
var. of dial. scaff, eat voraciously < ?
Examples of 'scarf' in a sentence
scarf
She cut bits off to make a scarf and uses the rest as a top.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She had a scarf tied around her neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We huddle in our coats and scarves.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This floral scarf makes a perky spring accessory.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They were wrapped in woollen helmets and long scarves.
Len Deighton Bomber
Wears scarves with jackets and looks the part.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We were wrapped in scarves but were still shivering.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The scarves twirl round and round thousands of heads.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Tie a jaunty silk scarf around your neck.
The Sun (2012)
Her woollen scarf had been used to tie her body to the tombstone.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Double the scarf around your neck so it leaves two long ends.
The Sun (2008)
The warmer weather meant that it sold fewer winter coats and scarves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Her hair is said to be growing back and she no longer wears a scarf at home.
The Sun (2006)
It is regularly dressed with red and white flowers and scarves fans who still make pilgrimages the spot.
The Sun (2008)
A scarf can really make an outfit and is a great addition to many looks.
The Sun (2009)
He drinks his coffee scalding and keeps his scarf on indoors, as though he is ready to slip out at any moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
scarf
British English: scarf /skɑːf/ NOUN
A scarf is a piece of cloth that you wear round your neck or head, usually to keep yourself warm.
He loosened the scarf around his neck.
American English: scarf
Arabic: وِشَاح
Brazilian Portuguese: cachecol
Chinese: 围巾
Croatian: šal
Czech: šátek
Danish: tørklæde
Dutch: sjaal
European Spanish: bufanda
Finnish: huivi
French: écharpe cou
German: Schal
Greek: κασκόλ
Italian: sciarpa
Japanese: スカーフ
Korean: 스카프
Norwegian: skjerf
Polish: szal
European Portuguese: cachecol
Romanian: fular
Russian: шарф
Latin American Spanish: bufanda
Swedish: scarf
Thai: ผ้าพันคอ
Turkish: eşarp
Ukrainian: шарф
Vietnamese: khăn quàng
Chinese translation of 'scarf'
scarf
(skɑːf)
Word forms:plscarfsscarves
n(c)
(long) 围(圍)巾 (wéijīn) (条(條), tiáo)
(square) 头(頭)巾 (tóujīn) (块(塊), kuài)
(noun)
Definition
a piece of material worn around the head, neck, or shoulders
He reached up to loosen the scarf around his neck.