Oofy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈuːfi/

Definitions

1. Lacking strength or substance; feeble or weak in character or physical presence
2. Showing a lack of physical power or moral courage
3. Describing someone or something as lacking robustness or vitality

Etymology: The most surprising link here runs through a poker table. "Oof" started as a clipping of "ooftish," a word from Yiddish, where the phrase "gelt oyfn tish" meant "money on the table," the stakes sitting in plain view for everyone to see. Over time the sound shortened into a single exclamation, and "oof" came to express the groan of a blow or a sudden loss. The adjective "oofy" was built by adding the common suffix "-y" to that clipped "oof." The word's public profile jumped in 2009, when American professional poker player Joe Cada, after winning the World Series of Poker Main Event, was so well known for a single exclamation of his own that the sound became attached to his name in poker circles. The adjective then took on its current sense of describing someone or something as lacking robustness or vitality, the feeling of a person who looks worn down, weak, or unwell.

Synonyms: awkward, clumsy, foolish

Antonyms: graceful, smooth