delf

noun

ˈdelf

variants or less commonly delft

-lft 

or delph

-lf

plural -s

1

a

now dialectal, England : excavation

usually : mine, quarry

b

: pond

also : drain, ditch

2

: a square heraldic bearing used as an abatement and supposed to represent a square sod

Word History

Etymology

Middle English delf, from Old English gedelf, from delfan to dig

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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