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scoff

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scoff¹

  • /skɒf/ UK
  • /skɔːf/ US
  • /skɑːf/ cot caught merger

Rhymes with -ɒf

Where it comes from

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.

noun scoffs

  1. 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.

    Similar: derision, ridicule, scoff, mockery, katagelasticism

  2. An object of scorn, mockery, or derision. [T]he scoff of wither'd age and beardless youth […]

verb scoffs · scoffing · scoffed

  1. 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.

    Similar: laugh at, sneer, gird, jeer, jibe, scoff, scorn

  2. transitive To mock; to treat with scorn.

    Similar: contemn, deride, badger, bam, barrack, brock, bullyrag, chiack, fleer, fligger, flite, geck

scoff²

  • /skɒf/ UK
  • /skɔːf/ US
  • /skɑːf/ cot caught merger

Rhymes with -ɒf

Where it comes from

A variant, attested since the mid 19th century, of scaff, of uncertain origin. Compare scarf (“eat quickly”).

noun scoffs

  1. British Army, Newfoundland, South Africa, countable, slang, uncountable Food.
  2. countable, slang, uncountable The act of eating. Lunch for the busy has become a quick scoff of processed, terrifyingly orange couscous, […]

verb scoffs · scoffing · scoffed

  1. Australia, Newfoundland, UK, slang To eat food quickly. ‘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.’

    Similar: gobble, scarf

  2. British Army, Newfoundland, South Africa, slang To eat.

Translations

Every language

noun expression of derision

Españolburla, rebuzno, escarnecimiento
Françaisdérision, ridicule, moquerie
DeutschSpott
Italianoscherno, derisione, verso, scorno, ridicolo
Românăbatjocură, bătaie de joc, derâdere
Русскийнасме́шка nasméška

noun object of scorn, mockery, or derision

Españolhazmerreír

verb to jeer; laugh at with contempt and derision

Españolburlarse, escarnecer, rebuznar, mofarse, hacerse de la boca chiquita
Françaisse gausser, se moquer, tourner en ridicule, faire fi, snober
Deutschverlachen
Italianoderidere, schernire, fare il verso, motteggiare
Românăbatjocori, ridiculiza
Русскийнасмехаться nasmexatʹsja, осмеивать osmeivatʹ

noun slang: food

DeutschFressalie
Italianomangiare, cibaria
Românăhaleală, potol

verb to eat food quickly

Españoldevorar, zampar
Françaisengloutir
Deutschverschlingen
Italianotrangugiare
Românăhali, înfuleca
Русскийуплетать upletatʹ, лопать lopatʹ

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Cite this
MLA

"scoff." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/scoff. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

scoff. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/scoff

Chicago

"scoff." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/scoff.

BibTeX
@misc{scoff_2026,
  title = {scoff},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/scoff},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}