surf1 (serf)

[An altered form (scarcely found before the 18th century, and prob. simulating surge ) of suffl (early mod. E. suffe, Sc. souf ), a phonetic spelling of sough, orig. a rushing sound: see sough1. The proposed derivation from OF. surflot, the rising of billow upon billow, is untenable. Cf. surf2 for sough2.] The swell of the sea which breaks upon the shore, or upon banks or rocks. My Raft was now strong enough;... my next care was how to preserve what I laid upon it from the Surf of the Sea. Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (ed. 1719), i. ( Skeat.) As o'er the surf the bending main-mast hung, Still on the rigging thirty seamen clung. Falconer, The Shipwreck, iii. (1762). It is right precious to behold The first long surf of climbing light Flood all the thirsty east with gold. =Syn. See wavel . Lowell, Above and Below, ii.