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Boo vs Scoff - What's the difference?

boo | scoff |

As an adjective boo

is .

As a noun scoff is

derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach or scoff can be (south africa) food.

As a verb scoff is

to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision or scoff can be (british) to eat food quickly.

boo

English

Etymology 1

Coined to create a loud and startling sound. Compare Latin .

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • A loud exclamation intended to scare someone, especially a child. Usually used when one has been hidden from the victim and then suddenly appeared unexpectedly.
  • A word used ironically in a situation where one might have scared someone, but said someone was not scared. Not said as loudly as in definition 1.
  • An exclamation used by a member or many members of an audience, as at a stage play or sports game, to indicate derision or disapproval of what has just occurred.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A derisive shout made to indicate disapproval.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Sam Sheringham , title=Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=...Hodgson headed down the tunnel with the boos of fans ringing in his ears after an eighth league defeat of the season...}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shout extended boos derisively.
    • When he took the podium, the crowd booed .
  • * 2004 , The New Yorker, 18 Oct 2004
    • Nobody booed and nobody clapped
  • To derisively shout extended boos at.
    • The protesters loudly booed the visiting senator.

    Etymology 2

    From beau.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, AAVE, slang) A close acquaintance or significant other.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----

    scoff

    English

    Etymology 1

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

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Derision; ridicule; a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
  • * Shakespeare
    • With scoffs , and scorns, and contumelious taunts.
  • * 1852 , The Dublin University Magazine (page 66)
    • There were sneers, and scoffs , and inuendoes of some; prophecies of failure in a hundred ways
  • An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
  • * Cowper
    • The scoff of withered age and beardless youth.
    Synonyms
    * derision, ridicule * See also

    Verb

  • To jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision.
  • * Goldsmith
    • Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, / And fools who came to scoff , remained to pray.
    Synonyms
    * contemn, deride, sneer

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (South Africa) Food.

    • Verb

  • (British) To eat food quickly.
  • (South Africa) To eat.
    • Synonyms
    * (eat quickly) (l), (l) (US)

    See also

    * scuff