scarf

scarf — noun

1. a long narrow strip of material that people loop around their neck or drape over

1.nounA2
Definition

a long narrow strip of material that people loop around their neck or drape over their shoulders for extra warmth or a smart look

Example

Diya wrapped a red scarf around her neck before stepping out into the cold morning.

collocation: wrap + scarf + around + body part

The old wooden hanger held a hand-knitted scarf that Wren's grandmother had made.

passive: be wrapped / be worn

Common collocations
  • woollen scarf
  • silk scarf
  • hand-knitted scarf
  • winter scarf
  • scarf around the neck
Synonyms
  • shawl

    larger covering for shoulders, usually square or triangular, often for women

  • muffler

    old-fashioned term for a thick scarf worn around the neck for warmth

  • bandana

    small square cloth tied around the head or neck, more casual

  • wrap

    general term for a cloth covering; can be worn in many ways

Grammar Patterns

scarf + verb

scarf + preposition + body part

Usage Note

Countable. Often paired with a colour or material adjective (silk scarf, woollen scarf). Can also be worn as a head covering, not just around the neck.

Common Mistakes

I put on my scarf in my neck.
I put my scarf around my neck.
Use 'around' with 'neck', not 'in'.
She wears a scarf on summer.
She wears a scarf in summer.' or 'She wears a scarf during summer.
Use 'in' or 'during' for seasons.

scarf — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words refer to cloth worn on the upper body, but they differ in shape and use. A scarf is a long strip of cloth worn around the neck or head — the most common and versatile item. A shawl is a larger, square or triangular piece draped over the shoulders, usually worn by women for warmth or style. A muffler is an old-fashioned British term for a thick, heavy scarf, tightly wrapped for warmth in winter. A bandana is a small square cloth tied around the head or neck, associated with casual or work wear. A wrap is a broad term for any cloth covering worn loosely — a light wrap might be a pashmina, a pashmina is a type of scarf or shawl. In everyday use: 'Diya grabbed her scarf before going out in the cold' (scarf for warmth), 'Wren wore a silk shawl to the evening party' (shawl for elegance over bare shoulders).

scarf ↗shawl ↗muffler ↗bandanawrap ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-NormanEnglish

The noun 'scarf' comes from Old French 'escarpe' (sash, sling), which entered English around the 1550s meaning a sling for a wounded arm, later shifting to a decorative band of cloth. The verb sense 'to eat quickly' has a separate origin — it appeared in American English around the 1960s, possibly from a dialectal use of 'scarf' meaning 'to eat ravenously', or a blend of 'scoff' (to eat greedily) and 'scarf' as something you 'wolf down'. The carpentry sense (scarf joint) comes from Old Norse 'skarfr' (a joint between two timbers) — unrelated to the cloth meaning.