scurf

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) A skin disease.
2. (countable, uncountable) The flakes of skin that fall off as a result of a skin disease.
3. (countable, uncountable) Any crust-like formations on the skin, or in general.
4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) The foul remains of anything adherent.
5. (countable, uncountable) Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot.
6. (countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable) A low, mean person.

Synonyms

dandruff

exfoliation

scale

scab

furfur

leafage

powder

precipitation

room

scald

sediment

squama

tetter

scall

dandriff

dander

dead skin

deposit

dust

eschar

Translations

crosta

Schorf

squama

konak

forfora

kabuklu

pellicules

Kopfgrind

teigne

Schuppen

écaille

πιτυρίδα

caspa

dartre

croûte

Pronounced as (IPA)

/skɜː(ɹ)f/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English: scurf

Cognate with Dutch: schurft

Cognate with German: Schorf

Cognate with Danish: skurv

Cognate with Swedish: skorv

In summary

From scurf (“skin disease causing scabs or scales; flakes of skin that fall off due to a skin disease, etc.”), from Old English scurf, from Proto-Germanic *skurf- (“to gnaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut off, sever; to divide, separate”). Cognate with Dutch schurft, German Schorf, Danish skurv, Swedish skorv.