Definitions for: Wharf


[n] a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
[v] moor at a wharf, of vessels; "The ship was wharfed"
[v] come into or dock at a wharf; "the big ship wharfed in the evening"
[v] discharge at a wharf; "wharf the passengers"
[v] store on a wharf; "Wharf the merchandise"
[v] provide with a wharf; "Wharf the mouth of the river"



Webster (1913) Definition: Wharf, n.; pl. Wharfsor Wharves. [AS. hwerf, hwearf,
a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go
about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a
shipbuilder's yard, Dan. verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to
enlist, to engage, woo, OHG. werban to turn about, go about,
be active or occupied, Icel. hverfa to turn, Goth.
hwa['i]rban, hwarb[=o]n, to walk. Cf. Whirl.]
1. A structure or platform of timber, masonry, iron, earth,
or other material, built on the shore of a harbor, river,
canal, or the like, and usually extending from the shore
to deep water, so that vessels may lie close alongside to
receive and discharge cargo, passengers, etc.; a quay; a
pier.

Commerce pushes its wharves into the sea.
--Bancroft.

Out upon the wharfs they came, Knight and burgher,
lord and dame. --Tennyson.

Note: The plural of this word is generally written wharves in
the United States, and wharfs in England; but many
recent English writers use wharves.

2. [AS. hwearf.] The bank of a river, or the shore of the
sea. [Obs.] ``The fat weed that roots itself in ease on
Lethe wharf.'' --Shak.

Wharf boat, a kind of boat moored at the bank of a river,
and used for a wharf, in places where the height of the
water is so variable that a fixed wharf would be useless.
[U. S.] --Bartlett.

Wharf rat. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The common brown rat.
(b) A neglected boy who lives around the wharfs. [Slang]


Wharf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wharfed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wharfing.]
1. To guard or secure by a firm wall of timber or stone
constructed like a wharf; to furnish with a wharf or
wharfs.

2. To place upon a wharf; to bring to a wharf.

Synonyms: dock, pier, wharfage

See Also: berth, bitt, bollard, discharge, dock, drop, furnish, moor, platform, provide, put down, quay, render, set down, shipside, store, supply, tie up, unload

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