From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.
Meanings
A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], page 100, column 1:
"I believe you've killed that constable in the exercise of his duty, sir; the man's dead;" said Lowe, sternly. / "Another gloss on my text; why invade me like house-breakers?" said Dangerfield, with a grim scoff. 1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “The Wher-wolf”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume III, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 200:
There were sneers, and scoffs, and inuendoes of some; prophecies of failure in a hundred ways […] 1852, The Dublin University Magazine, page 66:
An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
[T]he scoff of wither'd age and beardless youth […] 1782, William Cowper, “Hope”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC:
bg подигравка (expression of derision) · fr moquerie (expression of derision) · it ridicolo (expression of derision) · bg присмех (expression of derision) · it scorno (expression of derision) · fr dérision (expression of derision) · id sindiran (expression of derision) · pl drwina (expression of derision) · pl kpina (expression of derision) · fr ridicule (expression of derision) · oc derision (expression of derision) · ro derâdere (expression of derision) · it scherno (expression of derision) · fi pilkan kohde (object of scorn, mockery, or derision) · bg посмешище (object of scorn, mockery, or derision) · ru насме́шка (expression of derision) · hy ծաղր (expression of derision) · oc escòrna (expression of derision) · fi iva (expression of derision) · es escarnecimiento (expression of derision) · es hazmerreír (object of scorn, mockery, or derision) · oc escarniment (expression of derision) · it derisione (expression of derision) · de Spott (expression of derision) · it verso (expression of derision) · pl pośmiewisko (object of scorn, mockery, or derision) · cs posměch (expression of derision) · es burla (expression of derision) · pl szyderstwo (expression of derision) · pl docinek (expression of derision) · fi pilkka (expression of derision) · ota لطیفه (expression of derision) · ro batjocură (expression of derision) · oc trufariá (expression of derision) · ro bătaie de joc (expression of derision) · es rebuzno (expression of derision)
From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.
Meanings
(intransitive) To jeer; to laugh with contempt and derision.
Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, / And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray. 1770, [Oliver] Goldsmith, The Deserted Village, a Poem, London: […] W[illiam] Griffin, […], →OCLC:
es hacerse de la boca chiquita (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl dogadać (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl dogadywać (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · de verlachen (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · oc se trufar (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl szydzić (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · is gera gys (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fi nauraa ivaten (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · it motteggiare (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · nl spotten (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · oc se garçar (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fr se moquer (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · ro batjocori (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · ro ridiculiza (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl zadrwić (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · ru осмеивать (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · mi taunu (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · cy gwawdio (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · it schernire (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · cs dělat si legraci (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fi nauraa pilkaten (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl kpić (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · mi aniani (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl zakpić (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · it fare il verso (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fr faire fi (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · hu kigúnyol (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · is hæða (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · es rebuznar (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · bg подигравам се (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · la cavillor (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · cs vysmívat se (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · ru насмехаться (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · cy gwatwar (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fr tourner en ridicule (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · bg присмивам се (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · hu kinevet (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fr se gausser (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · mi tāwai (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · id menyindir (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · hu gúnyolódik (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · is draga dár (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · fr snober (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · it deridere (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · pl drwić (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · es escarnecer (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · es burlarse (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision) · es mofarse (to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision)
A variant, attested since the mid 19th century, of scaff, of uncertain origin. Compare scarf (“eat quickly”).
Meanings
(Australia, Newfoundland, UK, slang) To eat food quickly.
The numbers thin out the further we get from London, so I don't feel guilty when I remove my mask momentarily to scoff some of the snacks I'd bought at Marylebone. 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68:
‘You got to own that this old Orlando Boop’s pretty hot stuff, having it out with the Baron for scoffing all the best food at his table.’ 1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 84:
(British-Army, Newfoundland, South-Africa, slang) To eat.