wharf Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
    dock; pier; wharfage.
  2. verb provide with a wharf
    • Wharf the mouth of the river
  3. verb store on a wharf
    • Wharf the merchandise
  4. verb discharge at a wharf
    • wharf the passengers
  5. verb come into or dock at a wharf
    berth; moor.
    • the big ship wharfed in the evening
  6. verb moor at a wharf
    • The ship was wharfed

WordNet

Wharf noun
Etymology
AS. hwerf, hwearf, a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a shipbuilder's yard, Dan. verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to enlist, to engage, woo, OHG. werban to turn about, go about, be active or occupied, Icel. hverfa to turn, Goth. hwaírban, hwarbon, to walk. Cf. Whirl.
Wordforms
plural Wharfs or Wharves
Definitions
  1. A structure or platform of timber, masonry, iron, earth, or other material, built on the shore of a harbor, river, canal, or the like, and usually extending from the shore to deep water, so that vessels may lie close alongside to receive and discharge cargo, passengers, etc.; a quay; a pier.
    Commerce pushes its wharves into the sea. Bancroft.
    Out upon the wharfs they came, Knight and burgher, lord and dame. Tennyson.
    ✍ The plural of this word is generally written wharves in the United States, and wharfs in England; but many recent English writers use wharves.
  2. AS. hwearf. The bank of a river, or the shore of the sea. Obs. "The fat weed that roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf." Shak.
Wharf transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Wharfed ; present participle & verbal noun Wharfing
Definitions
  1. To guard or secure by a firm wall of timber or stone constructed like a wharf; to furnish with a wharf or wharfs.
  2. To place upon a wharf; to bring to a wharf.

Webster 1913