English

Noun

go-off

1. start; beginning; commencement
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 4

     At last, he emerged with his hat very much dented and crushed down over his eyes, and began creaking and limping about the room, as if, not being much accustomed to boots, his pair of damp, wrinkled cowhide ones— probably not made to order either—rather pinched and tormented him at the first go off of a bitter cold morning.

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Episode 16

     Corley at the first go-off was inclined to suspect it was something to do with Stephen being fired out of his digs for bringing in a bloody tart off the street.

Translations

Usage notes

This is normally used in the phrases "at the first go-off" or "at one go-off"