English Explanatory Dictionary

scaffold

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building.
  2. An elevated platform on which a criminal is executed.
  3. An elevated platform on which dead bodies are ritually disposed of, as by some Native American tribes.
  4. An accumulation of adherent, partly fused material forming a shelf or dome-shaped obstruction above the tuyeres in a blast furnace.
  5. A structure that provides support for some other material.
  6. A device in scaffolding, i.e. the provision a framework or support for achieving an intended outcome of internalizing learnings by way of collaboration and later gradual withdrawal of support.
verb
  1. To set up a scaffolding; to surround a building with scaffolding.
  2. To sustain; to provide support for.
  3. To dispose of the bodies of the dead on a scaffold or raised platform, as by some Native American tribes.
  4. To provide a framework or support for achieving an intended outcome of internalizing learnings by way of collaboration and later gradual withdrawal of support.

Pronunciation

/ˈskæf.əld/ /ˈskæf.əʊld/ /ˈskæf.ld/ en-au-scaffold.ogg

Word forms

scaffold scaffolds scaffolding scaffolded

Etymology

From Middle English scaffold, scaffalde, from Anglo-Norman schaffaut, eschaffaut, eschafal, eschaiphal, escadafaut (“platform to see a tournament”) (Modern French échafaud), from Old French es- (indicating movement away or separation) (from Latin ex- (“out, away”)) + chafaud, chafaut, chafault, caafau, caafaus, cadefaut (“scaffold for executing a criminal”), from Vulgar Latin *catafalcum (“viewing stage”), possibly from Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “back; against”) + Latin -falicum (from fala, phala (“wooden gallery or tower; siege tower”)).

Derived words

bioscaffold gantry scaffold go to the scaffold intrascaffold microscaffold nanoscaffold neoscaffold scaffoldage scaffolder scaffold hopping scaffoldin scaffolding scaffoldish scaffoldless scaffoldlike scaffold protein scaffoldwide scaffoldy send to the scaffold subscaffold superscaffold superscaffolding ultrascaffold
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