different between scurf vs scruff

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sk??(?)f/
• Rhymes: -??(?)f

Etymology 1

From Middle English [Term?], from Old English sceorf, from Proto-Germanic *skurf- (“to gnaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”). Cognate with German Schorf, Danish skurv, Swedish skorv.

Noun

scurf (countable and uncountable, plural scurfs)

1. A skin disease.
2. The flakes of skin that fall off as a result of a skin disease.

   Synonym: dandruff

3. Any crust-like formations on the skin, or in general.
4. (figuratively) The foul remains of anything adherent.

   Synonym: scum
5. (botany) Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Gray to this entry?)

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

scurf (plural scurfs)

1. A grey bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus).

Anagrams

• curfs

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sk??f/
• Rhymes: -?f

Etymology 1

See scurf.

Noun

scruff (countable and uncountable, plural scruffs)

1. Someone with an untidy appearance.

2. Stubble, facial hair (on males).
3. (obsolete) Crust.
4. (obsolete) Scurf.

Derived terms

• scruffy

Translations

Etymology 2

1790, from earlier (1787) scuft, influenced by scruff (“crust”). Related to North Frisian skuft (“back of the neck of a horse”) and Dutch schoft (“withers (of a horse)”), from Proto-Germanic. Compare also Old Norse skopt (“hair of the head”), Gothic ???????????????????? (skuft, “hair of the head”), Middle High German schopf (German Schopf).

Noun

scruff (plural scruffs)

1. The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
2. (rare) The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck.

   He grabbed his unruly child by the scruff of the neck, and took him home.

Usage notes

Strictly refers to the loose skin at the back of the neck – found on many mammals, though not humans – rather than the back of the neck itself. While this distinction is not always observed, scruff is used almost exclusively in the phrase “to grab [someone/something] by the scruff [of the neck]”.

Synonyms

• nape
• nucha, nuchal (medical)
• withers (of a horse)

Translations

Verb

scruff (third-person singular simple present scruffs, present participle scruffing, simple past and past participle scruffed)

1. To lift or carry by the scruff.

See also

• scuff

References