Scurf

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scurf \Scurf\, n. [AS. scurf, sceorf, or from Scand.; cf. Sw.
     skorf, Dan. skurv, Icel. skurfur, D. schurft, G. schorf; all
     akin to AS. scurf, and to AS. sceorfan to scrape, to gnaw, G.
     sch["u]rfen to scrape, and probably also to E. scrape. Cf.
     {Scurvy}.]
     1. Thin dry scales or scabs upon the body; especially, thin


        scales exfoliated from the cuticle, particularly of the
        scalp; dandruff.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence, the foul remains of anything adherent.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The scurf is worn away of each committed crime.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Anything like flakes or scales adhering to a surface.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top
              Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire
              Shone with a glossy scurf.            --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Bot.) Minute membranous scales on the surface of some
        leaves, as in the goosefoot. --Gray.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  scurf
       n 1: (botany) a covering that resembles scales or bran that
            covers some plant parts
       2: a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the
          skin [syn: {scale}, {exfoliation}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  53 Moby Thesaurus words for "scurf":
     bilge, bilgewater, canaille, carrion, chip, corruption, dandruff,
     decay, dishwater, ditchwater, excrement, filth, flake, floccule,
     flocculus, flock, foul matter, furfur, gangrene, garbage,
     hoi polloi, masses, mess, mob, muck, mucus, obscenity, offal,
     offscourings, ordure, other half, paring, proletariat, pus,
     putrid matter, refuse, riffraff, rot, scale, scum, scuz, sewage,
     sewerage, shaving, slime, slop, slops, slough, smut, snot, sordes,
     swill, trash