Etymology From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.
1
A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], page 100, column 1:
"I believe you've killed that constable in the exercise of his duty, sir; the man's dead;" said Lowe, sternly. / "Another gloss on my text; why invade me like house-breakers?" said Dangerfield, with a grim scoff.1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “The Wher-wolf”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume III, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 200:
1 more example
There were sneers, and scoffs, and inuendoes of some; prophecies of failure in a hundred ways […]1852, The Dublin University Magazine, page 66:
2
An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
[T]he scoff of wither'd age and beardless youth […]1782, William Cowper, “Hope”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC:
scoff
verb
Etymology From Middle English scof, skof, probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Old Norse skaup, Old Danish skof, Old Frisian skof (“insult, shame”), and Old High German scoph.
1
To jeer; to laugh with contempt and derision.
Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, / And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray.1770, [Oliver] Goldsmith, The Deserted Village, a Poem, London: […] W[illiam] Griffin, […], →OCLC:
2
To mock; to treat with scorn.
scoff
noun
Etymology A variant, attested since the mid 19th century, of scaff, of uncertain origin. Compare scarf (“eat quickly”).
The numbers thin out the further we get from London, so I don't feel guilty when I remove my mask momentarily to scoff some of the snacks I'd bought at Marylebone.2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68: