General
scoff
What does scoff mean?
Note: a separate, unrelated meaning is to mock or sneer at something.
"He scoffed at the idea, then did it anyway."
Origin
British slang from the 1800s, related to dialect 'scaff' meaning food. The eating sense is distinct from the unrelated 'scoff' meaning to mock.
Frequently asked questions
What does scoff mean in British slang?
To scoff is to eat something fast and greedily. As a noun, scoff also just means food.
Is scoff the same as the word for mocking?
They're spelled the same but unrelated. One means to eat greedily; the other means to sneer or mock.
Is scoff British?
Yes, the food meaning is firmly British slang, in use since the 1800s.
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