oaf
pronunciation
How to pronounce oaf in British English:
UK [əʊf]
How to pronounce oaf in American English:
US [oʊf]
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- Noun:
- an awkward stupid person
Word Origin
- oaf
- oaf: see elf
- oaf (n.)
- 1620s, auf, oph (modern form from 1630s), "a changeling; a foolish child left by the fairies" [Johnson], from a Scandinavian source such as Norwegian alfr "silly person," in Old Norse "elf" (see elf). Hence, "a misbegotten, deformed idiot." Until recently, some dictionaries still gave the plural as oaves.
Example
- 1. Get in there , you big furry oaf !
- 2. You clumsy oaf ! You 've broken it !
- 3. To show you my capture of that brainless oaf hagrid .
- 4. You sad , impotent oaf ?
- 5. Mind that cup , you clumsy oaf !