scarf
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A long piece of cloth worn around the neck or head for warmth, fashion, or religious purposes.
A joint connecting two pieces of timber or metal by notching and bolting them together; also, the act of eating or drinking something quickly and greedily (as a verb).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has three distinct meanings (noun: clothing/joint, verb: eating) with separate etymologies, making it a polyseme. The clothing sense is the most frequent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb 'scarf' meaning 'to eat quickly' is more common in American English. The plural can be 'scarves' (more common for clothing) or 'scarfs' (more common for the joint/verb).
Connotations
Primarily neutral for clothing; 'scarf down' (verb) is informal.
Frequency
The noun for clothing is high frequency in both varieties. The verb is medium frequency in AmE, low in BrE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] scarf [down/up] [NP][NP] wear/have on [DET] scarf[NP] made of [MATERIAL]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scarf down/up”
- “on the scarf (archaic, slang for begging)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in fashion retail contexts.
Academic
Rare, except in historical/cultural studies of dress.
Everyday
Very common, especially in discussions of weather and clothing.
Technical
In woodworking/metalworking for the joint; in skiing/sports for a type of injury.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He managed to scarf the entire sandwich in two minutes.
American English
- I scarfed down my breakfast before running to catch the bus.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is cold, so I wear a warm scarf.
- She has a red and blue scarf.
- He wrapped his woolen scarf tightly around his neck against the winter wind.
- This silk scarf was a gift from my grandmother.
- The fashion show featured extravagant scarves that doubled as headpieces.
- He scarfed up the last piece of cake before anyone else noticed.
- The timber was joined using a traditional scarf joint for added strength.
- Cultural norms dictate the specific way the head scarf should be worn.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A SCARF keeps you SAFE from the cold (both start with 'sc' and 'f').
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A WRAPPING (She wrapped herself in silence / a scarf of mist covered the hills).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'шарф' (correct translation). Beware of false friend 'скарф' (non-existent hybrid). The verb 'to scarf' is not related to clothing.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'scarfs' for clothing (though sometimes accepted, 'scarves' is standard). Misspelling: 'scaff'. Confusing with 'sash' or 'bandana'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common meaning of 'scarf'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are accepted, but 'scarves' is the standard and more common plural for the clothing item. 'Scarfs' is sometimes used for the verb or technical joint.
As a noun for clothing, it is neutral and suitable for all registers. The verb 'to scarf (down)' is informal.
A scarf is typically long and narrow, worn around neck/head. A shawl is larger, rectangular or triangular, worn over shoulders. A stole is similar to a shawl but usually made of formal fabric like fur or silk.
Yes, but it is less common and more likely to be understood as an Americanism. British speakers might use 'gobble up' or 'wolf down' instead.
Collections
Part of a collection
Colors and Clothes
A1 · 45 words · Colors and common items of clothing.