Link Centre Dictionary

dandruff

dand·ruff

UK/ˈdændɹʌf/ US/ˈdændɹʊf/ uncommon

noun

1.

a condition in which white scales of dead skin are shed by the scalp

2.

loose scales shed from the scalp

  • “I could see the dandruff on her shoulders”

Origin

The word is first attested in 1545; the first element is obscure, but compare dander. The second element derives from a Northumbrian or East Anglian Middle English hurf (“scab”), from Old Norse hrufa. Compare Dutch roof, Luxembourgish Roff. Related with Proto-Germanic *hreubaz, *hreufaz (“rough, scabby”), source of Old English hrēofla (“leprosy, leper”). More at reef (etymology 3).

Related words

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.