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Definition 2024

Goof

Goof

See also: goof

Alemannic German

Noun

Goof m, f ‎(plural Gööf, diminutive Gööfli)

  1. child

goof

goof

See also: Goof

English

Noun

goof ‎(plural goofs)

  1. (US) A mistake or error,
    I made a goof in that last calculation.
    1. (US, cinematography) An error made during production which finds its way into the final release.
  2. (US) A foolish and/or silly person; a goofball.
    Your little brother is a total goof.
  3. (Canada, prison slang) A child molester.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

goof ‎(third-person singular simple present goofs, present participle goofing, simple past and past participle goofed)

  1. (US) To make a mistake.
    It's my fault: I goofed.
  2. (US) To engage in mischief.
    We were just goofing by painting the neighbors cat green.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:make a mistake

Translations

Derived terms

Etymology

Perhaps from dialectal English goff ‎(“foolish clown”), from earlier goffe, further etymology uncertain.

Perhaps from Middle English goffen ‎(“to speak in a frivolous manner”), possibly from Old English gaf, ġegaf ‎(“base; wanton; lewd”, adj), Old English 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, Ancient Greek γόμφος ‎(gómphos).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡuːf/
  • Rhymes: -uːf

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