scurf Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (botany) a covering that resembles scales or bran that covers some plant parts
  2. noun a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin
    scale; exfoliation.

WordNet

Scurf noun
Etymology
AS. scurf, sceorf, or from Scand.; cf. Sw. skorf, Dan. skurv, Icel. skurfur, D. schurft, G. schorf; all akin to AS. scurf, and to AS. sceorfan to scrape, to gnaw, G. schürfen to scrape, and probably also to E. scrape. Cf. Scurvy.
Definitions
  1. Thin dry scales or scabs upon the body; especially, thin scales exfoliated from the cuticle, particularly of the scalp; dandruff.
  2. Hence, the foul remains of anything adherent.
    The scurf is worn away of each committed crime. Dryden.
  3. Anything like flakes or scales adhering to a surface.
    There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire Shone with a glossy scurf. Milton.
  4. (Bot.) Minute membranous scales on the surface of some leaves, as in the goosefoot. Gray.

Webster 1913