swarf

swarf · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*swerbaną“to mop, wipe; to rub off”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*swarbą“that which is rubbed off; shavings”
3. Old Norse · derived fromsvarf“metallic dust”
4. Old English · inherited fromġeswearf
5. Middle English · inherited from*swarf
6. English todayswarf

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”).

swarf · verb, noun²

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*swerbaną“to mop, wipe; to rub off”
2. Old English · inherited fromsweorfan“to wipe; to polish; to rub, scour; to file”
3. Middle English · inherited fromswarven
4. English todayswarf

From Middle English swarven, swerven (“to go; to deviate, turn aside; to stagger, be unsteady; to swerve”), from Old English sweorfan (“to wipe; to polish; to rub, scour; to file”), from Proto-Germanic *swerbaną (“to mop, wipe; to rub off”). The word is cognate to Middle Dutch swerven (“to rove; to stray”) (whence Dutch zwerven (“to roam”)), Low German swarven (“to rove; to stray; to riot”), Old Norse svarfa (“to sweep; to be agitated, upset”), Norwegian svarva (“to agitate”), sverva (“to whirl”). See swerve.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 16th c. The waste chips or shavings from an abrasive activity, such as metalworking, a saw cutting wood, or the use of a grindstone or whetstone.