A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Scarf, n. Also: scarfe, scarff, skarf(f, skairf, skerf(f, skerffe; skraf, skref; (skaf). [e.m.E. scarf(f)e (1555), scraf (1562), skarfe (1566), scarf (1624), OF escrepe, echerpe, escharpe (12th c. in Larousse), MDu. scharpe.] a. A scarf, a broad strip of fine stuff, worn loosely over the shoulders as an ornamental accessory to one's dress. In quot. Waus Corr., scarf may be erron. for Scart n. b. A (scarf used as a) sling for a wounded arm. c. A military scarf or sash. d. A black sash worn over the shoulder as a token of mourning at a funeral.a. 1576–7 Waus Corr. 139.
And now quhen I haif forsakin all wthiris that offerit me siluir … I haif resauit ane scarf for my raward 1603 Montgomery Mem. II 246.
Sax yards of tefenie to be two skrafis Ib. 125.
Skrefis 1607 Edinb. Test. XLIII 152.
Tuelf … ourlairis with ane skaf, ane ring, ane new antefute of veluot [etc.] 1608 Tailor's Acc. Bk. A 70.
One preinȝie of silver to the skarf 1618 Edinb. Test. L 164b.
Tua riche skarffis imbroderit at xxx lib. the peice 1620 Ib. 352.
Fyve imbroderit skairfis at xx lib. the peice 1666 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 540.
3 ellis of taffitie half breid for a scarfe 1667 Old Ross-shire I 60.
Skerffe and hoods c1680 Bk. Dunvegan 194.
Lutstring for skarfs 1696 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 192.
For an alamod skerf, £20 10 s. 1701 Fam. Rose 390.
5 ells lutstring … for hood and skerffb. 1625 Justiciary Cases I 23.
The wound [in his arm] was haillit and he went that nycht to Tarsappie his scarff being cassin awayc. 1665 Irvine Mun. II 91.
Whosoevir sould ding the samyn [sc. papingo] doun sould be capitan, and have ane benne or scarff consisting of the value of twelff pundis Scotts or thairby 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) ii 16.
Some ask'd … Why … plaids for scarff about his middled. c1680 Bk. Dunvegan 190.
Alamod, narrow for a murning skarf
