ofay

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, Busiek, Kurt, “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, DeLillo, Don, 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.
   • a. 1969, John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces, Penguin, published 1981, →ISBN:

     “You better tell your little ofay kid friend move along.”

   • 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.

References

1. Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “ofay”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• Yafo