tharf

English

Etymology

From Middle English therf, from Old English þeorf (“unleavened, fresh, skim”), from Proto-West Germanic *þerb, from Proto-Germanic *þerbaz (“unleavened, simple”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)terbh-, *(s)trebh- (“rigid, stiff, tight”).

Cognate with German derb (“rough, coarse, rude”), Old Frisian therve, Middle Dutch derf, Middle High German derp, Icelandic þjarfur (“unleavened”) and Ancient Greek τέρπω (térpō).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈθɑː(ɹ)f/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)f

Adjective

tharf (comparative more tharf, superlative most tharf)

1. (obsolete, regional British) Stiff, unsocial, rough in manner.

   a tharf person

Derived terms

• tharf-cake
• tharcake
• tharfish

References

• The Dictionary of the Scots Language

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English þearf, first and third person singular indicative of þurfan (“to be in need, have need of, need to, be required to, be obliged to, owe”), from Proto-Germanic *þurfaną, *þurbaną, *þerbaną (“may, need to, be allowed to”), from Proto-Indo-European *terp-, *trep- (“to saturate, enjoy”).

Cognate with Dutch durf (“(I) dare”) (infinitive durven), German darf (“(I) am allowed to”) (infinitive dürfen), Swedish tarva (“to require”), Icelandic þarf (“(I) need”) (infinitive þurfa).

Alternative forms

• darf, þarf

Verb

tharf

1. first/third-person singular present indicative of tharen

Descendants

• English: thair
• Scots: thair

Etymology 2

Adjective

tharf

1. Alternative form of therf

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *þarbu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /θɑrf/
• (late Old Saxon) IPA^(key):

Noun

tharf f (genitive tharvo)

1. need, lack, necessity

Declension

Related terms

• tharfag

Descendants

• Middle Low German: *darf
  • ⇒ Middle Low German: bedarf