On Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:05:16 +0100, OG had
this to say:

Stephen wrote:
Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) ...

Oxford English Dictionary is uncertain of the route of the workd in
English, but there are words in Swedish (Skarfva) and Norwegian (Skarva,
skjerva) with specific meanings of lengthening timbers or garments by
overlapping joints. Possibly the English word came via old French
(ecart, escarf) rather than directly from the Swedish.



Does anyone else's local Library Service give online access to the full
OED online via their library ticket?

Yes.

--
Frank Erskine
Sunderland