scoff

English

WOTD – 14 March 2008

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English scof/skof, of Scandinavian origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Danish skuffelse(noun)/skuffe(verb) and Old High German scoph.

Noun

scoff (plural scoffs)

  1. Derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
    • Shakespeare
      With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts.
    • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard
      'I believe you've killed that constable in the exercise of his duty, Sir; the man's dead,' said Lowe, sternly.
      'Another gloss on my text; why invade me like housebreakers?' said Dangerfield with a grim scoff.
    • 1852, The Dublin University Magazine (page 66)
      There were sneers, and scoffs, and inuendoes of some; prophecies of failure in a hundred ways […]
  2. An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
    • Cowper
      The scoff of withered age and beardless youth.
Synonyms
Translations

Verb

scoff (third-person singular simple present scoffs, present participle scoffing, simple past and past participle scoffed)

  1. To jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision.
    • Goldsmith
      Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, / And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray.
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Etymology 2

From Afrikaans.

Noun

scoff (plural scoffs)

  1. (South Africa) Food.
  2. (British Army) Food.
Translations

Verb

scoff (third-person singular simple present scoffs, present participle scoffing, simple past and past participle scoffed)

  1. (Britain) To eat food quickly.
  2. (South Africa) To eat.
  3. (British Army) To eat.
Synonyms
Translations

See also

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