/ skɑːf; NAmE skɑːrf/ noun , verb
■ noun
( pl. scarves / skɑːvz; NAmE skɑːrvz/ or less frequent scarfs ) a piece of cloth that is worn around the neck, for example for warmth or decoration. Women also wear scarves over their shoulders or hair :
a woollen / silk scarf
■ verb
[ v , vn ] ( NAmE , informal ) = scoff
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun mid 16th cent. (in the sense sash (around the waist or over the shoulder) ): probably based on Old Northern French escarpe , probably identical with Old French escharpe pilgrim's scrip.
verb 1960s: variant of scoff in the sense eat quickly and greedily .