scoff
UK /skɒf/ · US /skɔːf/ noun, verb
Forms scoffs scoffing scoffed
- noun A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
- noun An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
- verb (intransitive) To jeer; to laugh with contempt and derision.
- verb (transitive) To mock; to treat with scorn.
- noun (Newfoundland, South Africa and British Army slang) Food.
- noun (slang) The act of eating.
- verb (UK, Australia, Newfoundland, slang) To eat food quickly.
- verb (Newfoundland, South Africa and British Army slang) To eat.
Synonyms
derision ridicule mockery katagelasticism laugh at sneer gird jeer jibe scorn contemn deride badger bam barrack brock bullyrag chiack fleer fligger jeering scoffing flout gibe
Etymology
From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.
A variant, attested since the mid 19th century, of scaff, of uncertain origin. Compare scarf (“eat quickly”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Derision; ridicule; mockery; derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
- noun An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
- verb To show insolent ridicule or mockery; to manifest contempt by derisive acts or language; --often with at. Thuth from his lips prevailed with double sway, And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray. Goldsmith.
- verb To treat or address with derision; to assail scornfully; to mock at. To scoff religion is ridiculously proud and immodest. Glanwill.
Etymology [OE. scof; akin to OFries. schof, OHG. scoph, Icel. skaup, and perh. to E. shove.]
Etymology [Cf. Dan. skuffe to deceive, delude, Icel. skopa to scoff, OD. schoppen. See Scoff, n.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “scoff”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details