ofay

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

  • IPA(key): /ˈoʊfeɪ/
  • Homophone: au fait

Noun

ofay (plural ofays)

  1. (US, ethnic slur, slang) A white person.
    Synonyms: honky, whitey; see also Thesaurus:white person
    • [1929, Claude McKay, Banjo, 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

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