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goof

noun, verb — 6 senses

goof

noun

/ɡuːf/

Etymology

Perhaps from dialectal English goff (“foolish clown”), from earlier goffe, in which case further etymology is uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English goffen (“to speak in a frivolous manner”), possibly from Old English gaf, ġegaf (“base; wanton; lewd”, adjective), ġegaf (“buffoonery; scurrility”, noun), gaffetung, golfettung (“buffoonery; mockery”). Compare English dialectal gauffin (“lightheaded; foolish; giddy”), Scots gaff, gawf (“to talk loudly; babble”), Scots gaffaw (“a loud laugh”). Alternatively, perhaps from Middle French goffe (“awkward; stupid”). Compare also Spanish gofo, Italian goffo.

1

US, Informal A mistake or error.

  • I made a goof in that last calculation.
2

Broadcasting, Cinematography, Film, Media, Television US, Informal An error made during production which finds its way into the final release.

3

Canada, US, Informal A foolish and/or silly person; a goofball.

  • Your little brother is a total goof.
4

Canada, Slang A rapist.

goof

verb
Etymology

Perhaps from dialectal English goff (“foolish clown”), from earlier goffe, in which case further etymology is uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English goffen (“to speak in a frivolous manner”), possibly from Old English gaf, ġegaf (“base; wanton; lewd”, adjective), ġegaf (“buffoonery; scurrility”, noun), gaffetung, golfettung (“buffoonery; mockery”). Compare English dialectal gauffin (“lightheaded; foolish; giddy”), Scots gaff, gawf (“to talk loudly; babble”), Scots gaffaw (“a loud laugh”). Alternatively, perhaps from Middle French goffe (“awkward; stupid”). Compare also Spanish gofo, Italian goffo.

1

US To make a mistake.

  • It's my fault. I goofed.
  • GCN is in a sticky situation because we goofed and bought 10 pounds of a type of wax that we cannot use.1986 August 9, “Attention Art World”, in Gay Community News, page 13:
2

US To engage in mischief.

  • We were just goofing by painting the neighbor's cat green.
Derived terms
goof around, goofball, goofer, goofery, goofish, goof off, goof-off, goof on, goofproof, goof up, goofus, goofy

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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