swarf

Meanings

Plural: swarfs

Noun

The waste chips or shavings from an abrasive activity, such as metalworking, a saw cutting wood, or the use of a grindstone or whetstone.
A particular waste chip or shaving.
A faint or swoon.

Verb

To grind down.
To grow languid; to faint.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English *swarf, *swerf, from Old English ġeswearf, ġesweorf (“iron filings; rust”) and/or Old Norse svarf (“metallic dust”), both from Proto-Germanic *swarbą (“that which is rubbed off; shavings”), from Proto-Germanic *swerbaną (“to mop, wipe; to rub off”); see further at swerve. The word is cognate to Old English sweorfan (“to rub, scour; to file”).

Synonyms

turnings

Scrabble Score: 11

swarf is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
swarf is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
swarf is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

swarf is a valid Words With Friends word