| Definitions | wharf
noun (pl=wharves, pl2=wharfs)
- A man-made landing place jutting out to sea or by a river; mole, pier, or quay
Translations: - Dutch: werf , kade
- French: quai , appontement
- German: Kai , Wharf
- Italian: molo
(trans-mid)
- Spanish: embarcadero
(trans-bottom)
Etymology: Middle English < Old English hwearf "heap, embankment, wharf"; related to Old English hweorfan "to turn", Old Saxon hwarf, Old High German hwarb "a turn", hwerban "to turn", Old Norse hvarf "circle", Greek "wrist".The fact that wharves often have warehouses next to them for storing offloaded goods has led to the popular etymology that "wharf" is an acronym of 'warehouse at river front'; however this is incorrect.
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