scarf

¹ American  

[skahrf] / skɑrf /

noun

plural

scarfs, scarves

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

plural

scarfs

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

• scarfer noun
• scarfless adjective
• scarflike adjective

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”; 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

Barrett's bag was covered with her scarf when she left the shop - and staff said the boots weren't found in the fitting room.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

William watched as his wife, Catherine, known as Kate, tried her hand at helping weave a two-mile-long tartan scarf at a mental health charity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

He had already lost his lower jaw and wore his scarf tightly wound around his neck as though to prop up his smile.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

"History will hold them accountable," says the commander, who has a handle-bar moustache and wears a green fringed scarf around his neck.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Then he went inside the log, barred the entrance, and lay down with Amanda’s scarf.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

Related Words

• bandanna
• shawl
• stole