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On Thu, Nov 24, 2005 at 11:37:14AM +0000, Jakob Whitfield wrote:
> Ivor pondered:
> > I wonder if Escoffier is the etymological root of the verb to scoff?
> Just checked my SOED, and their earliest citation is 1849. It seems to
> be related to the dialect 'scaff', which isn't in my dictionary.
> Anyone have access to OED online to check that meaning?
scoff (skof), (-O:-), v.[1] Also 4 scof, 6-7 scoffe, skoffe. [f. SCOFF
sb.[1]]
1 intr. To speak derisively, mock, jeer. Const. at, +of, +over, +upon,
+with. Chiefly implying unworthy derision, as of something deserving
reverence or consideration.
A. 1380 St. Savina 255 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 97 Hit neodež not
to že forte scof. ...
The definition you seem to be looking at is ...
scoff (skof), (-O:-), v.[2] slang and dial. Also scorf, skoff. [app.
orig. a variant of SCAFF v., taken into slang from dialectal use;
latterly associated with the orig. South African SCOFF sb.[2]]
1 a trans. To eat voraciously, devour; also gen. to eat. Also with up,
down. Also fig. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 48 He scoffed weed; that is,
chewed tobacco.
and the Sith Efriken word that refers to ...
scoff (skof), (-O:-), sb.[2] colloq., orig. S. African. Also schoff,
skoff. [Cape Dutch, repr. Dutch schoft, quarter of a day, hence each of
the four meals of the day.] Food; also a meal. (Cf. SCAFF sb.) Also
attrib. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 51 It vas hout-and-hout good scoff, and
no flies. 1855 J. W. COLENSO Ten Weeks in Natal 54 The meat and other
scoff (food), which the Kafirs are so fond of.
But no mention of Escoffier anywhere in the entry for 'scoff'.
Escoffier himself is cited in numerous places in the dictionary.
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