ofayn.adj.

Brit.

/ˈəʊfeɪ/, U.S.

/ˈoʊˌfeɪ/

Forms: 1900s– ofay, 1900s– offay.

Origin: Of unknown origin.

Etymology: Origin unknown. A large number of etymologies have been suggested (as in quots. 1932 at sense A., 1977 at sense A.), but none are convincing; for summaries see J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1997) II. s.v., and Dict. Amer. Regional Eng. (1996) III. s.v.

U.S. slang (originally and chiefly in African-American usage). Chiefly derogatory or depreciative.

A. n.

A white person. Cf. fay n.⁴

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > white person > [noun]

white mana1398

Christian1622

European1666

white-face1684

long knife1784

buckra1794

sahib1796

white-skin1803

whitey1811

Pakeha1817

papalagi1817

paleface1823

whitefellow1826

Abelungu1836

haole1843

gringo1849

lightiea1855

umlungu1859

mzungu1860

heaven-burster1861

ladino1877

mooniasc1880

Conchy Joe1888

béké1889

ofay1899

ridge runner1904

Ngati Pakeha1905

kelch1912

pink1913

leucoderm1924

fay1927

Mr Charlie1928

pinkie1935

devil1938

wonk1938

oaf1941

grey1943

paddy1945

Caucasoid1956

Jumble1957

Caucasian1958

white boy1958

pinko-grey1964

honky1967

toubab1976

palagi1977

1898 Freeman (Indianapolis) 8 Oct. 5/1 ‘Ofay’ Brooks sends regards to ‘Snapper’ Edmonds.]

1899 Freeman (Indianapolis) 2 Sept. 5/5 London Letter... All the boys seem to like this side of th [sic] water... ‘Jiw-wauks’ are scarce, but ‘O-fays’ are plentiful.

1925 Inter-State Tattler 6 Mar. 8 We hear that ‘Booker Red’ has three ofays on his staff.

1932 Africa 5 506 The root of the word appears to come from the Ibibio Afia, white or light-coloured. Hence in Harlem Offay means any light-coloured person and therefore a European.

1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues v. 63 Most of the ofays, the white people, who came to Harlem those nights were looking for atmosphere.

1977 Amer. Speech 1975 50 89 That this word [sc. Yoruba ofe] could have been brought to the United States by slaves is altogether possible... Thus ofay may be taken as a word said for self-protection in times of threat, which was then transferred to the source of threat, and so came to mean ‘whiteman’.

1992 Folk Roots Sept. 47/3 Let's not get into any ethno-political-socio-hoo-ha here 'cos it's so boring, mainly—this is entertainment: right, ofays?

B. adj.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a white person; white.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > white person > [adjective]

European1666

white1726

whitey1798

Caucasian1807

paleface1830

blue-eyed1838

papalagi1844

Caucasic1890

Caucasoid1902

ofay1911

leucoderm1924

pinko-grey1924

pink1930

ladino1934

mzungu1961

honky1967

mlungu1973

umlungu1976

palagi1977

1911 Adventure Jan. 446 I saw a mardi-gras suit of clothes that might have been ‘ofay’ on a negro minstrel.

1927 Amer. Mercury Dec. 392 Ugly people there are, certainly, but the percentage of beautiful folk is unquestionably larger than among the ofay brethren.

1940 New Republic 7 Oct. 472 When he goes downtown to this civil-service office, they take him for ofay.

1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues ix. 101 ‘What will people think?’ is a big deal in ofay circles.

1971 Black World Apr. 62 I was attendant in the ofay ladies lounge.

1999 J. Ellroy Tijuana, mon Amour in GQ Mar. 276/2 He teed off on ofay oppression and segued to sepia self-hate.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	ofay
释义	ofayn.adj. Brit. /ˈəʊfeɪ/, U.S. /ˈoʊˌfeɪ/ Forms: 1900s– ofay, 1900s– offay. Origin: Of unknown origin. Etymology: Origin unknown. A large number of etymologies have been suggested (as in quots. 1932 at sense A., 1977 at sense A.), but none are convincing; for summaries see J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1997) II. s.v., and Dict. Amer. Regional Eng. (1996) III. s.v. U.S. slang (originally and chiefly in African-American usage). Chiefly derogatory or depreciative. A. n. A white person. Cf. fay n.⁴ ΘΚΠ the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > white person > [noun] white mana1398 Christian1622 European1666 white-face1684 long knife1784 buckra1794 sahib1796 white-skin1803 whitey1811 Pakeha1817 papalagi1817 paleface1823 whitefellow1826 Abelungu1836 haole1843 gringo1849 lightiea1855 umlungu1859 mzungu1860 heaven-burster1861 ladino1877 mooniasc1880 Conchy Joe1888 béké1889 ofay1899 ridge runner1904 Ngati Pakeha1905 kelch1912 pink1913 leucoderm1924 fay1927 Mr Charlie1928 pinkie1935 devil1938 wonk1938 oaf1941 grey1943 paddy1945 Caucasoid1956 Jumble1957 Caucasian1958 white boy1958 pinko-grey1964 honky1967 toubab1976 palagi1977 1898 Freeman (Indianapolis) 8 Oct. 5/1 ‘Ofay’ Brooks sends regards to ‘Snapper’ Edmonds.] 1899 Freeman (Indianapolis) 2 Sept. 5/5 London Letter... All the boys seem to like this side of th [sic] water... ‘Jiw-wauks’ are scarce, but ‘O-fays’ are plentiful. 1925 Inter-State Tattler 6 Mar. 8 We hear that ‘Booker Red’ has three ofays on his staff. 1932 Africa 5 506 The root of the word appears to come from the Ibibio Afia, white or light-coloured. Hence in Harlem Offay means any light-coloured person and therefore a European. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues v. 63 Most of the ofays, the white people, who came to Harlem those nights were looking for atmosphere. 1977 Amer. Speech 1975 50 89 That this word [sc. Yoruba ofe] could have been brought to the United States by slaves is altogether possible... Thus ofay may be taken as a word said for self-protection in times of threat, which was then transferred to the source of threat, and so came to mean ‘whiteman’. 1992 Folk Roots Sept. 47/3 Let's not get into any ethno-political-socio-hoo-ha here 'cos it's so boring, mainly—this is entertainment: right, ofays? B. adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a white person; white. ΘΚΠ the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > white person > [adjective] European1666 white1726 whitey1798 Caucasian1807 paleface1830 blue-eyed1838 papalagi1844 Caucasic1890 Caucasoid1902 ofay1911 leucoderm1924 pinko-grey1924 pink1930 ladino1934 mzungu1961 honky1967 mlungu1973 umlungu1976 palagi1977 1911 Adventure Jan. 446 I saw a mardi-gras suit of clothes that might have been ‘ofay’ on a negro minstrel. 1927 Amer. Mercury Dec. 392 Ugly people there are, certainly, but the percentage of beautiful folk is unquestionably larger than among the ofay brethren. 1940 New Republic 7 Oct. 472 When he goes downtown to this civil-service office, they take him for ofay. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues ix. 101 ‘What will people think?’ is a big deal in ofay circles. 1971 Black World Apr. 62 I was attendant in the ofay ladies lounge. 1999 J. Ellroy Tijuana, mon Amour in GQ Mar. 276/2 He teed off on ofay oppression and segued to sepia self-hate. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.adj.1899
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