oaf
UK /əʊf/ · US /oʊf/ noun
Forms oafs oaves auf
- noun (derogatory) A person, especially a large male, who is clumsy or a simpleton. “Ouch! You dropped that box on my feet, you lumbering oaf!”
- noun (dated, derogatory) An ill-mannered person; a boor.
- noun (obsolete) An elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins, hence, a deformed or foolish child.
Synonyms
dummy auf swapling galoot imbecile lout moron fool clod stumblebum goon lubber lummox lump gawk
Etymology
Variant of awf, aufe, probably from Old Norse álfr (“elf”) (whence Norwegian Bokmål alv). Doublet of alf and elf.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Originally, an elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins; hence, a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an idiot.
Etymology [See Auf.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “oaf”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details