Surf (?), n. [Formerly spelled suffe, and probably the same word as E. sough.] The swell of the sea which breaks upon the shore, esp. upon a sloping beach.
Surf bird(Zoöl.), a ploverlike bird of the genus Aphriza, allied to the turnstone. — Surf clam(Zoöl.), a large clam living on the open coast, especially Mactra, orSpisula, solidissima. See Mactra. — Surf duck(Zoöl.), any one of several species of sea ducks of the genus Oidemia, especially O. percpicillata; — called also surf scoter. See the Note under Scoter. — Surf fish(Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of California embiotocoid fishes. See Embiotocoid. — Surf smelt. (Zoöl.) See Smelt. — Surf whiting. (Zoöl.) See under Whiting.