ofay

English

Etymology

Unknown; perhaps from an African language. Pig Latin for foe, though popularly posited, is probably not accurate.

A possible point of origin is Cab Calloway's "Hepster's Dictionary" where "Ofay" is defined as "Policeman or law enforcement, 'The Man'.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈəʊfeɪ/
  • Homophone: au fait
  • Rhymes: -əʊfeɪ

Noun

ofay (plural ofays)

  1. (US, pejorative, slang) A white person.
    • 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, pejorative, slang) White, white-skinned.
    • 1984. Anthony Burgess, Enderby's Dark Lady:
      ‘Baby,’ April Elgar said, ‘you may be an uptight ofay milk-toast limey bastard, but you ain’t no fag.’
    • 1959. Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun:
      Everything is strictly peachy keen, as the ofay kids say.

Anagrams

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