κάρφος

A. any small dry body, esp. dry stalk, as of the dry sticks of cinnamon, Hdt. 3.111; of rice-straw, Polyaen. 4.3.32, cf. Luc. Herm. 33: generally, in pl., dry twigs, chips, straws, bits of wool, such as birds make their nests of, Ar. Av. 643, Sophr. 32, Arist. HA 612b23, AP 10.14 (Agath.): collectivelyin sg., A. Fr. 24, Arist. HA 560b8, Ath. 5.187c: in sg., chip of wood, Ar. V. 249; toothpick, Alciphr. 1.22: prov., κινοῦσα μηδὲ κ. 'not stirring an inch', Ar. Lys. 474, cf. Herod. 3.67; οὐδὲ κ. ἐβλάβη Epigr.Gr. 980.9 (Philae); ἀπὸ τῆς κύλικος κάρφος τῷ μικρῷ δακτύλῳ ἀφαιρετεῖν Ion Hist.1.

II. = Lat. festuca, Plu. 2.550b.

III. a small piece of wood on which the watchword was written, Plb. 6.36.3.

IV. in pl., ripe fruit, Nic. Al. 230, 491, Th. 893,941.

V. = τῆλις, Dsc. 2.102. (σκάρφος is v.l. (perh.right) in A.l.c., Plb.l.c.: perh. cogn. with Engl. sharp.)