n. [ Off + scour. ] That which is scoured off; hence, refuse; rejected matter; that which is vile or despised. Lam. iii. 45. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Off + scum. ] Removed scum; refuse; dross. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Off + set. Cf. Set-off. ] In general, that which is set off, from, before, or against, something; as: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Bot.) A short prostrate shoot, which takes root and produces a tuft of leaves, etc. See Illust. of Houseleek. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sum, account, or value set off against another sum or account, as an equivalent; hence, anything which is given in exchange or retaliation; a set-off. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A spur from a range of hills or mountains. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) A horizontal ledge on the face of a wall, formed by a diminution of its thickness, or by the weathering or upper surface of a part built out from it; -- called also set-off. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Surv.) A short distance measured at right angles from a line actually run to some point in an irregular boundary, or to some object. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mech.) An abrupt bend in an object, as a rod, by which one part is turned aside out of line, but nearly parallel, with the rest; the part thus bent aside. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Print.) A more or less distinct transfer of a printed page or picture to the opposite page, when the pages are pressed together before the ink is dry or when it is poor; an unitended transfer of an image from one page to another; called also setoff. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

8. See offset printing. [ PJC ]

Offset staff (Surv.), a rod, usually ten links long, used in measuring offsets. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Offset; p. pr. & vb. n. Offsetting. ] 1. To set off; to place over against; to balance; as, to offset one account or charge against another. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form an offset in, as in a wall, rod, pipe, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. (Printing) To make an offset. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Printing) A printing technique in which a lithographic image on an inked metal or stone plate is transferred first to a rubber sheet (usually on a cylinder) before transfer to the paper. Called also offset lithography. [ PJC ]

adj. Compensating for.
Syn. -- countervailing, compensatory, compensative. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Off + shoot. ] That which shoots off or separates from a main stem, channel, family, race, etc.; as, the offshoots of a tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. From the shore; as, an offshore wind; an offshore signal. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Located in the waters near the shore; as, offshore drilling. [ PJC ]

3. Operating or located in a foreign country; as, an offshore bank account; offshore mutual funds. [ PJC ]

adj. (Sports) Illegally beyond a prescribed line or area or ahead of the ball or puck; -- in sports such as football or hockey; as, the touchdown was nullified because the left tackle was offside. [ WordNet 1.5 ]