Zarf

Zarf

A Zarf is a holder, usually of ornamental metal, for a coffee cup without a handle. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zarf]

Although coffee was probably discovered in Ethiopia, it was in Turkey at around the 13th century that it became popular as a beverage. As with the serving of tea in China and Japan, the serving of coffee in Turkey was a complex, ritualized process. It was served in small cups without handles, which were placed in holders known as "zarf" (from the Arabic word, meaning container, envelope) to protect the cup and also the fingers of the drinker from the hot fluid. Cups were typically made of porcelain, but also of glass and wood, however since it was the holder that was more visible, it was typically more heavily ornamented.

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The zarf was often made from metal, with silver, gold, copper and brass being the most common materials used. Others were also made of woods such as coconut, ebony or other hardwoods, or of ivory, bone, horn or tortoiseshell.

Metal zarf were sometimes filigree work, sometimes decorated with chasing, niello, engraving, or set with gems or other precious stones.

Wooden zarf, very few of which remain, were favored because of the natural aroma of the wood from which they were fashioned. They were very fragile, but also very beautiful.

Tortoiseshell, horn and ivory zarf required special skill to make. In the first two cases, sheets of the material in question were softened in hot water and then clamped in a mold to create the required shape. Ivory was carved in the same way as wood; however, its greater value meant that more care was needed to avoid mistakes.

The United States Navy also has an item, usually made in the on-base metal shops that is bolted to bulkheads and consoles to hold coffee cups. The Navy zarf is very plain and utilitarian.

On 28 May 1997, the American National Security Agency declassified the codeword ZARF. It referred to an Air Force tiger team project that tested Multics security in 1973.

ee also

* Podstakannik


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • zarf — ZARF, zarfuri, s.n. (înv.) Suport metalic lucrat în filigran, pe care se punea felegeanul sau paharul cu ceai. – Din tc. zarf. Trimis de spall, 10.03.2002. Sursa: DEX 98  zarf s. n., pl. zárfuri Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar… …   Dicționar Român

  • zarf — ● zarf nom masculin Pied en forme de coquetier, sur lequel les Turcs posent les tasses qui contiennent le café. ⇒ZARF, subst. masc. [En Turquie] Support en forme de coquetier pour les tasses à café. Nous buvons maintenant un café admirable, dans… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • zarf — [zarf] n. an ugly and repellent male. □ Ooo, who is that zarf who just came in? □ That zarf is Martin, and he makes all A’s, and he helps me with my homework, so just shut up! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • zarf — (n.) 1836, from Arabic zarf vessel …   Etymology dictionary

  • zarf — [zärf] n. [Ar ẓarf, receptacle, vessel] a small, metal holder, used in the Levant to hold a cup of hot coffee …   English World dictionary

  • Zarf — arf, n. [Ar.] (Art) A metallic cuplike stand used for holding a finjan. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • zarf — zȁrf m <N mn zàrfovi> DEFINICIJA reg. ukrašena metalna čašica u kojoj se drži fildžan kad se pije kava ETIMOLOGIJA tur. ← arap. z arf …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • zarf — is., esk., Ar. ẓarf 1) Kap, kılıf, sarma 2) İçine mektup veya başka kâğıtlar konulan kâğıttan kese Bir sabah kahvaltımı yaparken bana gösterişli bir zarf getirdiler. A. Haşim 3) İçine fincan veya bardak oturtulan metal kap Kenarları ezik bir çift …   Çağatay Osmanlı Sözlük

  • zarf — /zahrf/, n. (in the Levant) a holder, usually of ornamental metal, for a coffee cup without a handle. Also, zurf. [1830 40; < Ar zarf vessel, sheath] * * * …   Universalium

  • zarf — (A.) [ فﺮﻇ ] 1. kap. 2. mektup zarfı. 3. zarf …   Osmanli Türkçesİ sözlüğü

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