scaf ‧ fold /ˈskæf ə ld, -fəʊld $ -f ə ld, -foʊld/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old North French ; Origin: escafaut , from Vulgar Latin catafalicum ; ⇨ ↑ catafalque ]
1 . a structure built next to a wall, for workers to stand on while they build, repair, or paint a building
2 . a raised structure which was used in the past as a place to kill criminals by hanging them or cutting off their heads
3 . American English a structure that can be moved up and down to help people work on high buildings SYN cradle British English