ofay

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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)

  1. (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)

  1. (US, ethnic slur, slang) White; white-skinned.

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “ofay”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams