oaf

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From awf,[1] related to Old Norse álfr (“elf”) (whence Norwegian Bokmål alv). Doublet of alf and elf.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /əʊf/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /oʊf/
  • Rhymes: -əʊf

Noun

oaf (plural oafs or oaves)

  1. (derogatory) A person, especially a large male, who is clumsy or a simpleton.
    Ouch! You dropped that box on my feet, you lumbering oaf!
  2. (obsolete) An elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins, hence, a deformed or foolish child.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ “auf”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Further reading

  • “oaf”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

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