▪ I. oaf1
(əʊf)
Also 7–8 oph, 8 oaph. pl. oafs (also 9 oaves).
[A phonetic variant of auf, earlier aulf: see also ouph.]
An elf's child, a goblin child, a supposed changeling left by the elves or fairies; hence, a misbegotten, deformed, or idiot child; a half-wit, fool, dolt, booby, as being by inference a changeling.
| 1625 Fletcher & Shirley Nt. Walker i. iv, Free us both from the fear of breeding fools And ophs, got by this shadow. 1638 Ford Fancies iv. i, I am..an oaf, a simple alcatote, an innocent. 1693 Shadwell Volunteers ii. i, Be gone you saucy Oafe. 1702 De Foe Good Advice to Ladies 110 Every word he spoke was like an Oph. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 68. 3/1 Pray under what Name must the Bubbl'd Oaph pass? 1710 Steele Tatler No. 248 ¶8 Marriages..between the most accomplished Women, and the veriest Oafs. 1826 Scott Woodst. xii, Those terrified oafs, who take fright at every puff of wind. 1858 Bailey Age 22 What oaves we must appear. |
b. Comb., as oaf-rocked adj.
| 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss., Oaf-rock'd, fool-born, of mentally weak from the cradle; spoiled by early indulgence. |
Hence ˈoafdom, state of being an oaf, stupidity.
| 1883 A. Dobson O W. Idylls, Une Marquise 34 Grown contented in our oafdom. |
▪ II. oaf2
Abbrev. of ofay. U.S.
| 1941 J. Smiley Hash House Lingo 40 Oaf, white person (used by negroes). |