(now rare) The act of cutting or carving something; a stroke or slice. / The groove or slit created by cutting or sawing something; an incision.

To cut a piece of wood or other material with several kerfs to allow it to be bent.

plural of kerf

present participle of kerf

(music, chiefly lutherie) A thin strip of wood kerfed to allow easy bending and then glued inside the body of a string instrument along the rim between its two abutting sides to reinforce the joint.

simple past tense and past participle of kerf

plural of kerfing

(chiefly Commonwealth of Nations, informal) A disorderly outburst, disturbance, commotion, or tumult. [from 19th c.]

(chiefly Britain, informal) To make a disorderly outburst or commotion.

Alternative spelling of kerfuffle