tharf

T1H4A1R1F4
UK/ˈθɑː(ɹ)f/

adjective

Stiff, unsocial, rough in manner.

“a tharf person”

OriginMiddle English therf ← Old English þeorf ← Proto-West Germanic *þerb →
Scrabble 11
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Meanings

tharf1

adjectivetharf (comparative more tharf, superlative most tharf)

comparative more tharf · superlative most tharf

  1. UKobsoleteregionalStiff, unsocial, rough in manner.

    a tharf person

tharf2

verbtharf (third-person singular simple present tharfs, present participle tharfing, simple past and past participle tharfed)

present singular third person tharfs · participle present tharfing · participle past tharfed · past tharfed

  1. UKobsoleteregionalto need

Origin

tharf · adjective

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)terbh-
  2. Proto-Germanic*þerbaz“unleavened, simple”
  3. Proto-West Germanic*þerb
  4. Old Englishþeorf“unleavened, fresh, skim”
  5. Middle Englishtherf
  6. Englishtharf

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.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

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tharf · verb

  1. Proto-Indo-European*terp-“to satisfy”
  2. Proto-West Germanic*þurban
  3. Englishtharf

From English tharf, conjugated form of tharen, from Proto-West Germanic *þurban, from Proto-Indo-European *terp- (“to satisfy”). Cognate with German dürfen (“may, to be allowed to; must”) and Ancient Greek τέρπω (térpō, “to delight”).

More words from Proto-West Germanic, Proto-Indo-European

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Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with tharf

scarfarfbarfBarff
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

tharf. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tharf

MLA

“tharf.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tharf. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tharf,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tharf.

Source: tharf on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.