toff

[ tof ]
See synonyms for: tofftoffs on Thesaurus.com

nounBritish Informal.
  1. a stylishly dressed, fashionable person, especially one who is or wants to be considered a member of the upper class.

Origin of toff

1
First recorded in 1850–55; perhaps variant of tuft

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use toff in a sentence

  • In other word, he is a toff among toffs—proving, perhaps, that while Cameron may one day go, the toffs might be here to stay.

  • Confusingly, hard-core toffs think that the Windsors are a bit common.

  • Half a score of ambitious politicians, gouty old financiers, bald-headed old toffs, with their waxed moustaches and false teeth.

    All Roads Lead to Calvary | Jerome K. Jerome
  • Often heard toffs decorated their tables with rags in hobble rings, but never believed it before.

    We of the Never-Never | Jeanie "Mrs. Aeneas" Gunn
  • By a curious coincidence the great news seemed to have reached all, toffs and crooks alike, at exactly the same time.

    Fantmas | Pierre Souvestre
  • So now we're bloomin' toffs, an' I'll get a pair of reach-me-downs this very bloomin' night.

    Harding's luck | E. [Edith] Nesbit
  • “Young toffs,” she decided, and wondered if it were worth while getting up or not.

British Dictionary definitions for toff

toff

/ (tɒf) /


noun
  1. British slang a rich, well-dressed, or upper-class person, esp a man

Origin of toff

1
C19: perhaps variant of tuft, nickname for a titled student at Oxford University, wearing a cap with a gold tassel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012