I. ˈskäf, ˈskȯf noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English scof, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to obsolete Danish skuf, skof jest, mockery, deceit, skuffe to jest; akin to Old Frisian skof mockery, and perhaps to Old English scop poet — more at scop
1. : scoffing , mockery
2. : a mocking expression of scorn, derision, or contempt : gibe
subject to the scoffs and guffaws of his fellows — C.M.Dudley
3. : an object of scorn, mockery, or derision
turn the whole matter into a scoff and call it a trifle — Encore
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English scoffen, from scof, n.
intransitive verb
: to show contempt by derisive acts or language : speak contemptuously or with ridicule or mockery
one of those attending the lecture … had come to scoff , but was converted — Lucile E. Hoyme
— often used with at
we may scoff at him in health, but we send for him in pain — B.N.Cardozo
transitive verb
: to treat or address with derision : mock at
how I have scoffed them in my heart — A.C.Gunter
Synonyms:
scoff , jeer , gibe , fleer , gird , sneer , and flout can all mean to show one's contempt in derision or mockery. scoff stresses insolence, lack of respect, or incredulity as motivating the derision
in consequence of this illiteracy, he scoffed at education and considered the professional scrivener an object of ridicule — L.C.Douglas
scoffed at the idea that modern man might have developed before Neanderthal — L.C.Eiseley
jeer stresses a coarse derisive laughter
before she had yanked me halfway across the floor, men and women were jeering at her, calling her a cradle robber — Conrad Richter
they would laugh at his warning. They would jeer him, and, if practicable, pelt him with missiles — Stephen Crane
gibe stresses taunting whether derisive or good-natured
gibe and catcall at a speaker for his political sentiments
hoot and gibe at her — Carl Jonas
fleer emphasizes derisive grins, grimaces, and laughter rather than utterances
listened with a fleering mouth — Joseph Hergesheimer
saying nothing but fleering unpleasantly at any and all remarks
gird stresses an attack marked by scoffing, gibing, or jeering
warned us, instead of girding at general prejudices, to employ our sagacity in discovering the latent wisdom that commonly exists in them — Walter Moberly
sneer , of all these terms, carries the strongest implication of ill-natured or caustic contempt, usually connoting the use of irony or satire augmented by an insultingly contemptuous facial expression, tone of voice, or general manner
his attitude … has been often unduly critical, occasionally to the point of sneering denunciation — F.E.Hirsch
they used to sneer and to jibe at the Redskin Fife and Drum Ensemble — W.B.Ready
too many teachers just sneer at TV and refuse to look at it — S.H.Horton
flout stresses a contempt of something shown by refusal to heed it or by denial of its truth or force
scorn or neglect of institutions, and characteristic flouting or reversing of convention — F.J.Hoffman
the law of supply and demand cannot be flouted indefinitely — C.T.Lanham
believes that our present immigration laws flout fundamental American traditions and ideals — President's Commission on Immigration & Naturalization
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of earlier scaff, of unknown origin
transitive verb
1. : to eat greedily : eat
2. : plunder , steal
intransitive verb
: to eat greedily : eat
clothes' moth starts scoffing the moment she hatches — Monsanto Magazine
IV. noun
( -s )
: food , meal