oaf

[ ohf ]

noun

1. a clumsy, stupid person; lout.

   Synonyms: boor, churl

2. a simpleton; dunce; blockhead.

   Synonyms: ninny, dolt

3. Archaic.
   1. a deformed or mentally deficient child.
   2. a changeling.

oaf

/ əʊf /

noun

1. a stupid or loutish person

Derived Forms

• ˈoafishness, noun
• ˈoafishly, adverb
• ˈoafish, adjective

Other Words From

• oafish adjective
• oafish·ly adverb
• oafish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oaf¹

1615–25; variant of auf, Middle English alfe, Old English ælf elf; cognate with German Alp nightmare

Word History and Origins

Origin of oaf¹

C17: variant of Old English ælf elf

Synonym Study

See boorish ( def ).

Example Sentences

The big oaf is a couch potato, not a leader for the blind, or for the seeing.

From The Daily Beast

Shakespeare refers to elves as ouphes, which is the same word as oaf and was formerly spelt aulf.

From Project Gutenberg

Gerda was out there still, with her brother and the oaf—whose name, Forrester had discovered, was Alvin Sherdlap.

From Project Gutenberg

Strange to say, the oaf seemed to be shedding tears and the quick sympathy went out from Emily's bosom, in spite of the past.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the oaf rose and looked down upon his work, with a childish pleasure.

From Project Gutenberg

The oaf began muttering in a low, indistinct murmur, like one soothing a child.

From Project Gutenberg