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Swarf vs Scrap - What's the difference?

swarf | scrap |

As nouns the difference between swarf and scrap

is that swarf is the waste chips or shavings from metalworking or a saw cutting wood while scrap is a (small) piece; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion.

As verbs the difference between swarf and scrap

is that swarf is to grow languid; to faint while scrap is to discard.

swarf

English

Noun

(-)
  • the waste chips or shavings from metalworking or a saw cutting wood
  • * 1979 , Cormac McCarthy, Suttree , Random House, p.95:
    • Harrogate looked at the ground. A black swarf packed with small parts in a greasy mosaic.
  • the grit worn away by use of a grindstone or whetstone, being particles of the material being cut and of the cutting stone itself

    • Usage notes

    Infrequently used after the 19th century; primarily in technical settings.

    Related terms

    * swerve

    See also

    * grind * grinder * grindstone * grit * hone * metalwork * smith * whet * whetstone

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (Scotland) To grow languid; to faint.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • to swarf for very hunger

    References

    scrap

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) scrappe, from (etyl) skrap, from

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A (small) piece; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion.
  • * De Quincey
    • I have no materials — not a scrap .
    I found a scrap of cloth to patch the hole.
  • (usually, in the plural) Leftover food.
    • Give the scraps to the dogs and watch them fight.
  • Discarded material (especially metal), junk.
    • That car isn't good for anything but scrap .
  • (ethnic slur, offensive) A Hispanic criminal, especially a Mexican or one affiliated to the Norte gang.
  • The crisp substance that remains after drying out animal fat.
    • pork scraps
    Derived terms
    * scrap paper * scrapbook * scrapheap * scrappy * scrapyard

    Verb

    (scrapp)
  • To discard.
  • (of a project or plan) To stop working on indefinitely.
  • To scrapbook; to create scrapbooks.
  • To dispose of at a scrapyard.
  • To make into scrap.
    • Derived terms
    * scrapper

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fight, tussle, skirmish.
    • We got in a little scrap over who should pay the bill.

    Verb

    (scrapp)
  • to fight

    • Anagrams

    * English terms with multiple etymologies