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What is the difference between shawl and scarf?

shawl | scarf |

As nouns the difference between shawl and scarf

is that shawl is a square or rectangular piece of cloth worn as a covering for the head, neck, and shoulders while scarf is a long, often knitted, garment worn around the neck.

As verbs the difference between shawl and scarf

is that shawl is to wrap in a shawl while scarf is to throw on loosely; to put on like a scarf.

shawl

English

Noun

(wikipedia shawl) (en noun)
  • A square or rectangular piece of cloth worn as a covering for the head, neck, and shoulders.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls , and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,

    Derived terms

    * beshawled

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wrap in a shawl.
    • (Thackeray)

    Anagrams

    * English terms derived from Persian

    scarf

    English

    (wikipedia scarf)

    Etymology 1

    Probably from . http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scarf?s=t. The verb is derived from the noun.

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A long, often knitted, garment worn around the neck.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=2 citation , passage=Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety.  She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet.}}
  • A headscarf.
  • (dated) A neckcloth or cravat.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To throw on loosely; to put on like a scarf.
  • * 1599-1601 , (William Shakespeare), (Hamlet), Act 5, Scene 2:
    • My sea-gown scarfed about me.
  • To dress with a scarf, or as with a scarf; to cover with a loose wrapping.

    • Etymology 2

    (the first two definitions) Of uncertain origin. Possibly from (etyl) skarfr, derivative of .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A type of joint in woodworking.
  • A groove on one side of a sewing machine needle.
  • A dip or notch or cut made in the trunk of a tree to direct its fall when felling.
    • Synonyms
    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shape by grinding.
  • To form a scarf on the end or edge of, as for a joint in timber, forming a "V" groove for welding adjacent metal plates, metal rods, etc.
  • To unite, as two pieces of timber or metal, by a scarf joint.

    • Etymology 3

    Of imitative origin, or a variant of scoff. Alternatively from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, US, slang) To eat very quickly.
    • You sure scarfed that pizza.
    Usage notes
    The more usual form in the UK is scoff.
    Derived terms
    * scarf down

    Etymology 4

    Icelandic (skarfr)?

    Noun

  • (Scotland) A cormorant.
    • (Webster 1913)

    References

    * English nouns with irregular plurals ----