cyrf

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *kurbi, from Proto-Germanic *kurbiz, from *kerbaną (“to carve”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- (“to scratch”) (compare Old Prussian gīrbin (“number”), Old Church Slavonic жрѣбии (žrěbii, “lot, tallymark”), Ancient Greek γράφειν (gráphein, “to scratch, etch”)). Cognate with Old Frisian kerf (“incision, cutting, notch”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kyrf/, [kyrˠf]

Noun

cyrf m

1. an instrument used for cutting
2. a cutting (off)
3. what is cut off

Declension

Declension of cyrf (strong i-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	cyrf	cyrfas
accusative	cyrf	cyrfas
genitive	cyrfes	cyrfa
dative	cyrfe	cyrfum

Related terms

• ċeorfan

Descendants

• Middle English: kerf, carffe, kerfe, kirf, kyrf
  • English: kerf, carf
  • Scots: kerf, carf