Hypertext Webster Gateway: "scurf"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Scurf \Scurf\, n. [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.
sch["u]rfen to scrape, and probably also to E. scrape. Cf.
{Scurvy}.]
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
scurf
n 1: (botany) a covering that resembles scales or bran that
covers some plant parts
2: a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the
skin [syn: {scale}]
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