Hypercorrections win out?

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>... so also have I
>seen only "scarf" in print, in the relevant meaning, in contemporary
>writing.

RHUD says this "scarf" (from the late 1950's) is derived from "scoff"
in the expected manner ("scoff" perceived as non-rhotic "scarf").
RHUD says this "scoff" is from the late _1850's_, with earlier
"scaff". SND shows Scots "scaff" (v.) in the same sense from 1823,
"scaff" (n.) = "food" from 1768.

-- Doug Wilson


--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.10/977 - Release Date: 8/28/2007 4:29 PM

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org