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fogey

[foh-gee]
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noun, plural fo·geys.
  1. fogy.
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fogy

or fo·gey

[foh-gee]
noun, plural fo·gies.
  1. an excessively conservative or old-fashioned person, especially one who is intellectually dull (usually preceded by old): The board of directors were old fogies still living in the 19th century.
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Origin of fogy

First recorded in 1770–80; origin uncertain
Related formsfo·gy·ish, adjectivefo·gy·ism, noun
Can be confusedfoggy fogy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fogey

Historical Examples

  • It is at best the act of a fogey and always an easy thing to do, as there are so few people who can contradict one.

    The Story of My Life

    Ellen Terry

  • But when my slightly contemptuous companion spoke I had no answer, felt out of date and dull, a fogey and an idle man.

    Old Junk

    H. M. Tomlinson

  • One old German fogey wanted to have all the letters on the German typewriters changed to German script.

    Germany in War Time

    Mary Ethel McAuley

  • Her people are hastening to bring from hidden coves things once discarded as fogey.

  • She said to herself that she was rapidly developing into a fogey, and must rigorously combat the grievous tendency.

    A Spirit in Prison

    Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for fogey

fogey

fogy

noun plural -geys or -gies
  1. an extremely fussy, old-fashioned, or conservative person (esp in the phrase old fogey)
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Derived Formsfogeyish or fogyish, adjectivefogeyism or fogyism, noun

Word Origin

C18: of unknown origin
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

Word Origin and History for fogey

n.

also fogy, "an old, dull fellow," 1780, Scottish foggie, originally "army pensioner or veteran," perhaps connected to fogram (1775) "old-fashioned person;" or from fog in obsolete senses of "moss" or "bloated fat" (1580s).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper