scoff

WOTD – 14 March 2008    

English

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /skɒf/, X-SAMPA: /skQf/
• (US) IPA: /skɔːf/, X-SAMPA: /skO:f/
• (cot–caught merger, northern cities vowel shift) IPA: /skɑːf/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒf

Etymology 1

From Middle English scof/skof, of Scandinavian origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Danish skuffelse(noun)/skuffe(verb) and Old High German scoph.

Noun

scoff (plural scoffs)

1. Derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
2. An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.

Synonyms

• (derision, ridicule): derision, ridicule
• See also Wikisaurus:ridicule

Translations

derision; ridicule; mockery

• Armenian: ծաղր (hy) (çaġr)
• Finnish: pilkka (fi), iva (fi)
• German: Spott (de) m

• Italian: scherno (it)
• Russian: насмешка (ru) (nasmeška) f

object of scorn, mockery, or derision

Verb

scoff (third-person singular simple present scoffs, present participle scoffing, simple past and past participle scoffed)

1. To jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision.

Synonyms

• (to jeer, laugh at): contemn, deride, sneer

Translations

to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision

• Dutch: spotten (nl)
• Finnish: ivata (fi), ilkkua (fi), pilkata (fi)
• German: spotten (de), spötteln

• Icelandic: hæða (is), draga dár (is), gera gys (is)
• Russian: насмехаться, осмеивать
• Spanish: burlarse (es)

Etymology 2

From Afrikaans.

Noun

scoff (plural scoffs)

1. (South Africa) Food.

Translations

food

Verb

scoff (third-person singular simple present scoffs, present participle scoffing, simple past and past participle scoffed)

1. (UK) To eat food quickly.
2. (South Africa) To eat.

Related terms

• scarf (US)

Translations

to eat food quickly

• Dutch: schrokken (nl)
• French: engloutir (fr)

• German: verschlingen (de)
• Russian: уплетать (ru) (upletatʹ), лопать (ru) (lopatʹ)

to eat

• Dutch: eten (nl)

See also

• scuff