oaf — a clumsy, stupid person
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a clumsy, stupid person
Pronunciation (IPA): /oʊf/
Example Sentences
- My brother is such an oaf - he broke three glasses this week!
- Stop acting like an oaf and help me move this furniture carefully.
- The clumsy oaf spilled coffee all over my new white shirt.
oaf
NOUN[/oʊf/]
a clumsy, stupid person
a clumsy, stupid person
The oaf drops his loaf with another goof!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Oaf derives from Old Norse elf, meaning a supernatural being or fairy. Originally denoting an elf-child or changeling in early 17th-century English, the term gradually acquired a pejorative sense, eventually coming to mean a stupid or clumsy person.
Breakdown
elf (supernatural being, fairy) + -af (diminutive or variant suffix) → oaf (originally fairy-child, later: stupid person). The semantic shift reflects a historical association between mischievous supernatural beings and foolishness.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My brother is such an oaf - he broke three glasses this week!”
“Stop acting like an oaf and help me move this furniture carefully.”
“The clumsy oaf spilled coffee all over my new white shirt.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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