Obs. exc. dial. In 1 cyrf, 4 kyrf, kerfe, 4–7 carfe, 5 carffe. [OE. had cyrf fem. repr. OTeut. kurbjô- from ablaut stem of CARVE v. Cf. MHG. kerbe, MLG. and MDu. kerve, Du. kerf fem. Thence ME. kyrf, kerfe; the later form may be modified after the vb., in OE. ceorfan; cf. LG. karf.]
1. Cutting, a cut, incision; a wound; a fissure.
a. 1000. Rule St. Benet, 28 (Bosw.). Cyrf abscissio.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 372. Kepe þe cosyn … þat þou on kyrf sette.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 152. With sondry kerfe and portreture.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2714. And whene þe carffes ware clene, þay clede them aȝayne.
1559. Morwyng, Evonym., 64. A thin borde with a slitt or carfe in the midst cut out overthwarth.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1593), 205. The bloud came spinning from the carfe.
1639. MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp. Canterb., For sawinge of a carfe in a peice of timber, ijd.
1847–78. Halliwell, Carf, the breadth of one cutting in a rick of hay. Kent.
1879. Jamieson, Carf, a cut in timber, for admitting another piece. Dumfr.
2. ? The cut part at the end of a piece of wood.
1502. Arnolde, Chron., 97. Iiij fote of assise be syde the carf.
1542–3. Act 34–5 Hen. VIII., iii. Euerie shyde of talwood to conteyne in length .iiii. foote of assise at least, besyde the carfe.
1799. S. Freeman, Town Off., 151. All cord wood for sale shall be four feet long, including half of the carf.
