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scurf

(skûrf)

1. Scaly dry skin that has been exfoliated, such as dandruff.

2. A loose scaly crust coating a surface, especially of a plant.

3. Any of several fungal diseases of plants characterized by scaly lesions especially on underground parts, such as the tubers of potatoes.

[Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; see sker-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

scurfi·ness n.

scurfy adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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