Goof

//ɡuːf// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A mistake or error. US, informal

    "I made a goof in that last calculation."

  2. 2
    a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior wordnet
  3. 3
    A mistake or error.; An error made during production which finds its way into the final release. US, informal
  4. 4
    a man who is a stupid incompetent fool wordnet
  5. 5
    A foolish and/or silly person; a goofball. Canada, US, informal

    "Your little brother is a total goof."

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  1. 6
    A rapist. Canada, slang
Verb
  1. 1
    To make a mistake. US

    "It's my fault. I goofed."

  2. 2
    commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake wordnet
  3. 3
    To engage in mischief. US

    "We were just goofing by painting the neighbor's cat green."

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

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