Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
ofay en · ADJ
Pronunciation
/ˈoʊfeɪ/
Etymology
Unknown; perhaps from an African language (possibly Yoruba ófé (“to evade, disappear”)). 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'".
Meanings
(US, ethnic, slang, slur) White; white-skinned.
“You better tell your little ofay kid friend move along.” 1963 (date written), John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces, London: Penguin Books, published 1980 (1981 printing), →ISBN:
Everything is strictly peachy keen, as the ofay kids say. 1959. Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun
‘Baby,’ April Elgar said, ‘you may be an uptight ofay milk-toast limey bastard, but you ain’t no fag.’ 1984. Anthony Burgess, Enderby's Dark Lady
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
more ofay
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
most ofay
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
ofay en · NOUN
Pronunciation
/ˈoʊfeɪ/
Etymology
Unknown; perhaps from an African language (possibly Yoruba ófé (“to evade, disappear”)). 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'".
Meanings
(US, ethnic, slang, slur) A white person.
The rival, the foe, the ofay, veins stretched and bulged between white knuckles. 1997, Don DeLillo, Underworld:
For example we have words like ofay, pink, fade, space, Mr. Charlie, cracker, peckawood, hoojah, and so on—nice words and bitter. [1929, Claude McKay, Banjo, published 1957, →ISBN, page 217:
You get outa my alley, Lucas -- and take that ofay with you, hear? 1983 May, Kurt Busiek, “The Chemistro Connection”, in Power Man and Iron Fist, volume 1, number 93, Marvel Comics Group: