Lexical Definition

‎κάρφος‎ kárphos (kar'-fos) speck ^G:N-N
from (to wither)

mote.

• a dry twig or straw

Abbott-Smith

κάρφος, -εος (-ους) τό, [in LXX: Ge 8:11 (טָרָף)*;]
a small dry stalk, a twig; metaph., of a minor fault: Mt 7:3-5, Lk 6:41, 42.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

κάρφος, εος, τό,

any small dry body, especially dry stalk, as of the dry sticks of cinnamon, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of rice-straw, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: generally, in plural, dry twigs, chips, straws, bits of wool, such as birds make their nests of, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in singular, chip of wood, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; toothpick, [Refs 4th c.AD+]. 'not stirring an inch', [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπὸ τῆς κύλικος κάρφος τῷ μικρῷ δακτύλῳ ἀφαιρετεῖν Ion Hist.1.

__II = Latin festuca, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__III a small piece of wood on which the watchword was written, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__IV in plural, ripe fruit, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__V ={τῆλις}, [κάρφος is variant (perhaps right)">Refs 1st c.AD+] in A.[same place], Plb.[same place]: perhaps cognate with Engl. sharp.)