scurf

n 1: (botany) a covering that resembles scales or bran that

covers some plant parts

2: a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the

skin [syn: {scale}]

smurf

/smerf/ (From the {news:soc.motss} {Usenet}

newsgroup, after some obnoxiously gooey cartoon characters) A

newsgroup regular with a habitual style that is irreverent,

silly, and cute. Like many other hackish terms for people,

this one may be praise or insult depending on who uses it. In

general, being referred to as a smurf is probably not going to

make your day unless you've previously adopted the label

yourself in a spirit of irony.

Compare {old fart}.

[{Jargon File}]

(1995-10-25)