- Original: κάρφος - Transliteration: Karphos - Phonetic: kar'-fos - Definition: 1. a dry stalk or twig, a straw 2. chaff - Origin: from karpho (to wither) - TDNT entry: None - Part(s) of speech: Noun Neuter - Strong's: From κάρφω karpho (to wither); a dry twig or straw: - mote.