dandruff

Meaning

Noun

scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis

Verb

To fall or cover with white flakes, like dandruff.

Concepts

dandruff

scurf

furfur

sculf

dandriff

leprosy

room

scald

scall

dander

exfoliation

scale

desquamation

shedding

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdændɹʌf/

Etymology

The word is first attested in 1545; the first element is obscure, but compare Yorkshire dialect, dander (skin scurf). The second element derives from a Northumbrian or East Anglian term huff or hruff, hurf (“scab”), from Old Norse hrufa. Compare Dutch roof, Luxembourgish Roff. Related with Proto-Germanic *hreubaz, *hreufaz (“rough, scabby”), source of Old English hrēofla (“leprosy, leper”). More at reef (etymology 3).