wharf \wharf\, n.; pl. wharfsor wharves. as. hwerf, hwearf,
   a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go
   about; akin to d. werf a wharf, g. werft, sw. varf a
   shipbuilder's yard, dan. verft wharf, dockyard, g. werben to
   enlist, to engage, woo, ohg. werban to turn about, go about,
   be active or occupied, icel. hverfa to turn, goth.
   hwa'irban, hwarb=on, to walk. cf. whirl.
   1913 webster
   1. a structure or platform of timber, masonry, iron, earth,
      or other material, built on the shore of a harbor, river,
      canal, or the like, and usually extending from the shore
      to deep water, so that vessels may lie close alongside to
      receive and discharge cargo, passengers, etc.; a quay; a
      pier.
      1913 webster

            commerce pushes its wharves into the sea.
                                                  --bancroft.
      1913 webster

            out upon the wharfs they came,
            knight and burgher, lord and dame.    --tennyson.
      1913 webster

   note: the plural of this word is generally written wharves in
         the united states, and wharfs in england; but many
         recent english writers use wharves.
         1913 webster

   2. as. hwearf. the bank of a river, or the shore of the
      sea. obs. "the fat weed that roots itself in ease on
      lethe wharf." --shak.
      1913 webster

   wharf boat, a kind of boat moored at the bank of a river,
      and used for a wharf, in places where the height of the
      water is so variable that a fixed wharf would be useless.
      u. s. --bartlett.

   wharf rat. zool.
      a the common brown rat.
      b a neglected boy who lives around the wharfs. slang
          1913 webster
          1913 webster
see also:
wharfs wharves whirl wharf boat wharf rat 

wharf rat
     n 1: someone who lives near wharves and lives by pilfering from
          ships or warehouses
     2: brown rat that infests wharves