tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post1710075799673732116..comments2024-03-27T21:54:06.467-07:00Comments on Wordlady: Word of the week: scarfKatherine Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06775090067364948963noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-15352908888356614942020-04-25T06:38:37.728-07:002020-04-25T06:38:37.728-07:00dwarves is a fairly recent development. When the O...dwarves is a fairly recent development. When the OED edited its entry for dwarf in 1897 they gave only "dwarfs", although there is in fact some evidence for "dwarves" from earlier in the 19th century. But not much, and none before 1800. Although "dwarf" is an Anglo-Saxon word, it didn't end with an f in Anglo-Saxon times, but with a g.<br />Katherine Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775090067364948963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-56651017053147591992020-04-24T19:16:57.527-07:002020-04-24T19:16:57.527-07:00We do also have the plural pair "dwarfs"...We do also have the plural pair "dwarfs" and "dwarves," tho I don't know whether that represents a change of f > vWordzGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04618408509448732889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-29829465145224829162020-04-24T15:38:36.080-07:002020-04-24T15:38:36.080-07:00Scarves. Until now I would have thought scarfs was...Scarves. Until now I would have thought scarfs was incorrect.WordNerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10846489918586408381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-72384881631247987862020-04-24T12:20:01.593-07:002020-04-24T12:20:01.593-07:00there is no connection and they are both of equall...there is no connection and they are both of equally obscure origin<br />Katherine Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775090067364948963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-27541614241539000282020-04-24T12:08:06.811-07:002020-04-24T12:08:06.811-07:00Scarves all the way. I had never heard the word &q...Scarves all the way. I had never heard the word "scarf" instead of "scoff" before I came to Canada from England in the late '70s. <br />What, if any, connection is there between "scoff" as in gobble and "scoff" as in ridicule?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-1917056217508726812020-04-24T11:21:52.748-07:002020-04-24T11:21:52.748-07:00I would usually think of scarfs as the 3rd person ...I would usually think of scarfs as the 3rd person singular for the verb and scarves as the plural for the noun.<br />I can't quite figure out how to wear a banana.comtokcanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07016751287359128507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-90283176419669521612020-04-24T10:18:08.329-07:002020-04-24T10:18:08.329-07:00Scarves...but I’m still stuck on “bananas.” 🤣Scarves...but I’m still stuck on “bananas.” 🤣JanineMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13475847392355523001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-39116561663292755062020-04-23T17:35:48.874-07:002020-04-23T17:35:48.874-07:00I alway use "scarves", but I have a fas...I alway use "scarves", but I have a fashion booklet published in New York in 1985 titled, Sensational Scarfs...44 Ways to Turn a Scarf into a Fabulous Look. I always assumed it was edited by someone who knew more about fashion than grammar!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12995494498240427657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-86390994303903835772020-04-23T15:10:25.994-07:002020-04-23T15:10:25.994-07:00I would use scarves and I have a lot of them. I wo...I would use scarves and I have a lot of them. I would use scarfs as a verb although it's not a word I would use very often.Sybil Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06176312440263975252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-3381607508490341322020-04-23T14:15:15.770-07:002020-04-23T14:15:15.770-07:00coughs, toffs, staffs, bailiffs, puffs, bluffs, cl...coughs, toffs, staffs, bailiffs, puffs, bluffs, cliffs, cuffs, duffs....Katherine Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775090067364948963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-44576153313156627372020-04-23T14:06:51.506-07:002020-04-23T14:06:51.506-07:00Goodness. Please be sure to be aware of a new face...Goodness. Please be sure to be aware of a new face covering made by a company named ¨Buff". It produces the eponymous "Buff" face covering. The usual reference is "I love your Buff. I wish I had more Buffs." The scarf wearing crowd can now cower behind their masks.Elizabeth Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108096598518457674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-86961339039576291102020-04-23T13:27:18.111-07:002020-04-23T13:27:18.111-07:00Scarves. It works better in the mouth than scarfs,...Scarves. It works better in the mouth than scarfs, where the juxtaposition of f and s is awkward. Are there any English plurals ending in fs? We have quite a few ves endings: halves, loaves, calves. But the plural of laugh is just laughs. (Smile emoji here.) isobelraven.cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11897103284649698634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-49159002522933886322011-01-16T21:15:47.000-08:002011-01-16T21:15:47.000-08:00I would only use "scarves" for the plura...I would only use "scarves" for the plural. I didn't know that there was a plural form "scarfs" until I read this post. Interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-15417412976323831792011-01-16T12:08:16.393-08:002011-01-16T12:08:16.393-08:00Hi,
I didn't know (among other things) about...Hi, <br /><br />I didn't know (among other things) about the existence of a regular plural for "scarf", but I was thinking there was a general principle that caused this switch (f to v) in passing to plurals. Or is it that (past) usage is left to decide ? <br /><br /> On the other hand, I have often wondered why "scarpa" for Italian ... shoes ? <br /><br /> Thanks.E.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11205729601535947534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-83730066676857103662011-01-16T12:02:03.257-08:002011-01-16T12:02:03.257-08:00I'm with Scott - 'scarves' only. I was...I'm with Scott - 'scarves' only. I was also going to mention a person 'scarfs' down which may warm you up if it's porridge, just as a scarf warms you up, but the two words are very different in meaning.<br />NormanNorman D. Lawsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690110675685389513.post-70100296123223533002011-01-16T06:41:44.324-08:002011-01-16T06:41:44.324-08:00"Scarves" only.
Now if you'll excus..."Scarves" only.<br /><br />Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go scarf down some breakfast ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com