Middle English Dictionary Entry
scurf n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scurf n. Also scurf(f)e, skurf(e, scorf(e, scourfe & scorfte & scrof(e, scroffe & (?error) skurth. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI skurfōttr adj., Swed. skorv, Icel. skurfur n.pl.; also cp. MDu. schorf, scorf. For the form scorfte cp. MDu. schorfte, scorfte, & for metathesized forms cp. OE scruf, var. of scurf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. shorf n.
1.
(a) A scaly or scabby disease of the skin, esp. of the head; also, a similar disease in sheep [quot.: Palladius]; (b) the dry slough or scab produced by a caustic medicine, the bursting of a carbuncle, etc.; (c) a scale of epidermis detached from a scab; (d) the slaggy crust left in refining metals, slag; ?also, rust; (e) fig. dross.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11823 : Wit þe crache him tok þe scurf [Göt: skurth; Frf: skurf], þe fester thrild his bodi thurgh.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)46a : The sede and barowis gresse growndyn to-geder..puttiþ a-way all evill scroffe and scabbe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)6.138 : Ouer yeer they [sheep] wol been in good poynte, Withouten scorf or scalle in cors or ioynte.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)189/17 : It schal..drywe awey þe skwrf and alle maner wemmys of mannys skyn.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)175 : So shalt þou destroye..þe noyous scrof þat is clepid in latyn furfur.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)109a : A Scurffe of þe body: Scabiositas, scabredo, scabritudo &c.; vbi Scabbe.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)626 : Glabra: scrofe or scalle.
b
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)93/6 : The carbuncle..is blak or swarte..wiþ brynnynge and blistrynge al aboute, of þe whiche scurfe [*Ch.(1): an escar] comeþ oute when it is broken.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)106/23 : Procure þe fallynge of þe scourfe [L eschare] wiþ buttre or wiþ some fatnesse.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)219/2 : Some medecynes cauteries also maken escare, i. a cursty scurf.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)223/24 : Þai commaundeden to make a cauterie..so þat þou schalt make grete and depe escares, i. scurfes or crustes.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4140 : All þe bolnyng went away, And þe scurfe with in a day.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)451 : Scurf, of scabbys: Squama, squamula.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)29b/a : If þer war added in þam of scoria plumbi, i. scorfe of lede, it war best or ful gode.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)173b/b : Al stiptik þingez..as..þe rinde of elme & oke, & þe scorf or filth [Ch.(2): rouste; L scoriam] of yren ywasshen is praised of Arnold.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)286/9 : Medecynes ben nedeful, þat dryen strongely by her proprete, after þat ben scurfe of bras and vertegrece ybrent and scurfe of yren.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)629/13 : Scoria, skurfe, is knowen; it dryeth ful mykel and heleþ.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)451 : Scurfe, of metel: Scorium.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)109b : A Scurfe of yrne: Scoria.
e
- a1425 NHom.in NM 73 (Ashm 42)p.205 : Scorfte.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)69/7,8 : Wið heafodsar, þæt ys scurf [L porrigines]..nim þisse wyrt sæd & gose smere, cnuca tosomne; hit þa hwitnysse þæs scurfes of þan heofode atyhð.
Note: Antedates word.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense (a).
Note: The closest etymon for this word is likely from OE (although OE was influenced by ON). Revise etymology to reflect this. Bosworth-Toller headform: scorf n. with variants sceorf, scurf, scruf.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 De Retard.Senect.(Trin-C R.14.52)199/1427 : It is nat expressid whether he spekith of oxio or of coluber or of dragon. Indifferently, he spekith of his propirte, seyeng..it forbedith the augmentacioun of scurphes.
Note: New form: Pl. scurphes.
Note: Quot. probably belongs to sense (a).--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 46/11 : Anoþer manere of vertegrece. Take þe of þe scurfe a cawdrouns betyng a pound, and of alum roche in poudre..and of fayre whijt brent salt a quartroun of a pound, and medle alle þese..togidres.
Note: ?New sense, or ?modify sense (d) to add other physical or chemical operations with metals.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. scurf.