schoft

Dutch

Etymology

The sense of "withers" is ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *skuft, from Proto-Germanic *skuftą.

The sense of "mean guy" is borrowed from Low German schofft, schufft (robber knight), for which see schavuit (rogue, rascal, crook).

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔft

Noun

schoft m (plural schoften, diminutive schoftje n or (Netherlands, informal) schoffie n)

  1. withers
  2. (derogatory) bastard, trash, a person with no moral

Usage notes

  • The regional diminutive schoffie is less harsh and has connotations of mischief or roguishness which may be positive in certain contexts, whereas schoft itself is always negative.

Derived terms

  • straatschoffie