oaf

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From auf, Old Norse[1] alfr (“elf”) (whence Norwegian Bokmål alv). Doublet of elf.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /əʊf/
  • (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; an idiot.
    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, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams
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