noun
- a temporary structure for holding workers and materials during the erection, repair, or decoration of a building.
- an elevated platform on which a criminal is executed, usually by hanging.
- a raised platform or stage for exhibiting spectacles, seating spectators, etc.
- any raised framework.
- a suspended platform that is used by painters, window washers, and others for working on a tall structure, as a skyscraper.
- Metallurgy. any piling or fusion of materials in a blast furnace, obstructing the flow of gases and preventing the uniform descent of the charge.
- a system of raised frameworks; scaffolding.
verb (used with object)
- to furnish with a scaffold or scaffolding.
- to support by or place on a scaffold.
noun
- a temporary metal or wooden framework that is used to support workmen and materials during the erection, repair, etc, of a building or other construction
- a raised wooden platform on which plays are performed, tobacco, etc, is dried, or (esp formerly) criminals are executed
verb (tr)
- to provide with a scaffold
- to support by means of a scaffold
n.mid-14c., “wooden framework used in building, etc., temporary structure for workmen to make walls,” a shortening of an Old North French variant of Old French eschafaut “scaffold” (Modern French échafaud), probably altered (by influence of eschace “a prop, support”) from chaffaut, from Vulgar Latin *catafalicum (see catafalque). Meaning “platform for a hanging” is from 1550s. Dutch schavot, German Schafott, Danish skafot are from French. As a verb from 1540s.