1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wharf  \Wharf\,  n.;  pl  {Wharfs}or  {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] 

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