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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCAFF, v.¹, n.¹ Also skaff, scauff, Freq. form scaffer. [skaf]

I. v. 1. To scrounge, go about looking for food or anything else that may be picked up (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1969). Derivs. skaffin, food obtained by these or similar means, “grub”; scafferie, skaf(fe)rie, scrounging; “the contents of a larder or pantry” (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.).Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 138:
He, in his glad heart, fa's a-lauffin'. And blesses Neptune for sic skaffin'.Gall. a.1897 Rab Ringan's Plewman Cracks 21:
[Animals] a' busy at their ain wark, biggin' their hooses or scafferin' for meet.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's x. 2:
Gear that's gether't by scafferie'll bring blythe oot-come to naebody.Cai. 1929 Scots Mag. (May) 92:
The great herring gulls swoop and shriek and squabble over the “scaffed” herring which fall from the baskets.

2. To wander about in an idle manner, to roam around (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 155; Bnff., Abd., Kcd. 1969).Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. ii.:
Missie cam ben and spiert gin we wis hungry bein' awa scaffin.Abd. 1934 D. Scott Stories 10:
Ye winna catch me scaufin' ower Scotland half nakit.

3. To eat or drink greedily (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., skaff, Sh. 1969).Ags. 1823 A. Balfour Foundling I. v.:
I'm ay as hungry as a hawk, an' cud scaff up a cogue fu' o' brose in nae time.

II. n. 1. Food, provisions (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 464; Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1969).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 79:
We'll ripe the pouch, an' see what scaff is there.Abd. 1797 Aberdeen Mag. 352:
The fattest gimmer frankly I'll send aff, To gi'e the totums their new-year's-day's scaff!Edb. 1801 Edb. Weekly Jnl. (28 Oct.) 341:
The fishermen complained not, being well pleased with their visitant [a shark], as a sure prognostic of the plenty of herrings on the coast; and they shrewdly observed — “These ferocious animals kens fu' weel whare to find their skaff”.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 115:
Weel you may see that siegin' host Had scaff and skink withouten cost.

Phr. scaff and raff, abundance, plenty, esp. of food (Abd. 1966). See also 4.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads II. 363:
Scaff and raff ye ay sall ha'.

2. Specif.: mashed potatoes (Rs. 1921 T.S.D.C; (Rs. 1990s).Rs. 1955 People's Jnl. (24 Sept.):
Scaff is boiled mashed potatoes left to cool then fried to a golden brown.

3. Spoil, booty, anything found by scrounging and appropriated (Cai. 1904 E.D.D., Cai. 1969); transf. progress, headway in any task or purpose.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He's makan puir skaff.

4. Refuse, worthless rubbish; also of persons: riff-raff; contemptuous term for a person (Edb., Ayr. 2000s). Phr. scaff(-and)-raff, id. Cf. 1. Phr.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxv.:
We wadna turn back, no for half a dizzen o' yon scaff-raff.Sc. 1823 Scott St Ronan's W. ii.:
A' that scauff and raff of physic-students, and writers' 'prentices, and bagmen.e.Lth. 1899 J. Lumsden Poems 54:
Begone, ye scum and scaff! Edb. 1983:
Shut yer face, ya wee scaff! Sc. 1997 Scotsman 9 May 21:
Worryingly, a new strain of yah has emerged in recent years - the Goa yah. They are the type who are stinking rich but after holidaying on the Indian island, dress like utter scaffs. Sc. 1999 Scotsman 5 Apr 14:
Just what kind of fearties does Mr Harding think Scots are? Does he think our skellums are mere schemies compared with superior English hooligans? Is he so hard-neckit as to believe that a Scottish hooligan is not every bit up wi' his cockapentie English scaff? Sc. 2000 Scotsman 25 Apr 14:
"It would be nice to have Playstation stuff, but I play a lot and enjoy myself. I think I enjoy myself more than other kids. Sometimes people say 'You're scaff (riff-raff), you don't have a TV', but I don't listen to them," he says. Sc. 2001 Daily Record 2 Jun 17:
But a fellow pupil said: "She had food thrown at her and was called scaff, frizz and swot."
She was severely bullied and as a result she kept herself to herself.

Deriv.: scaffie, Of poor quality; shabby (Edb., Gsw., Ayr. 2000s).Edb. 1983:
This auld jumper's awfae scaffie.Sc. 1995 Herald 25 Nov 19:
Think o the wey oor tartan tribes o fitba supporters hae brocht aboot a miraculous transformation in oor image: nae langer are we seen as hordes o alcoholic Huns, but as the best behaved frienliest fans in Europe, an that's official! Even if some o oor scaffie tykes cannae afford tae support the team, nae maitter; ...Edb. 1997:
I canna wear thon auld jaiket, it's awfy scaffie.Edb. 2000:
That's a scaffie haircut. She lives in a scaffie house.

5. The act of going about idly, roaming around in search of amusement or on the scrounge (Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags. 1969); diversion (Abd. 1969); one who does this, an idle restless person (Gregor).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 155:
The loons are oot o' the skaff through the toon.