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ofay. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ofay, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ofay in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ofay you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Unknown; perhaps from an African language (possibly Yoruba ófé (“to evade, disappear”)).[1] Pig Latin for foe, though popularly posited, is probably not accurate.
A possible point of origin is Cab Calloway's Hepster's Dictionary, where the word is defined as "Policeman or law enforcement, 'The Man'".
Pronunciation
Noun
ofay (plural ofays)
- (US, ethnic slur, slang) A white person.
- Synonyms: honky, whitey; see also Thesaurus:white person
, published 1957, →ISBN, page 217:For example we have words like ofay, pink, fade, space, Mr. Charlie, cracker, peckawood, hoojah, and so on—nice words and bitter.]
1983 May, Kurt Busiek, “The Chemistro Connection”, in Power Man and Iron Fist, volume 1, number 93, Marvel Comics Group:You get outa my alley, Lucas -- and take that ofay with you, hear?
1997, Don DeLillo, Underworld:The rival, the foe, the ofay, veins stretched and bulged between white knuckles.
Adjective
ofay (comparative more ofay, superlative most ofay)
- (US, ethnic slur, slang) White; white-skinned.
References
Anagrams