# scurf

> English word · Noun · IPA /skɜː(ɹ)f/

## Definitions
1. A skin disease.
2. The flakes of skin that fall off as a result of a skin disease.
3. Any crust-like formations on the skin, or in general.
4. The foul remains of anything adherent.
5. Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot.
6. A low, mean person.

## Etymology
From scurf (“skin disease causing scabs or scales; flakes of skin that fall off due to a skin disease, etc.”), from Old English scurf, from Proto-Germanic *skurf- (“to gnaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut off, sever; to divide, separate”). Cognate with Dutch schurft, German Schorf, Danish skurv, Swedish skorv.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scurf