eff

¹

[ ef ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. fuck:

   Stop effing around and get to work!

   Eff you, you lout!

noun

1. the word “fuck”; the f-word:

   peppering his speech with superfluous and highly offensive effs.

verb phrase

1. Go away!:

   Eff off and die, you piece of Martian scum!

eff.

²

abbreviation for

1. efficient, efficiency.
2. effective, effectiveness.

eff

/ ɛf /

verb

1. taboo.
   euphemism for fuck

   eff off

2. eff and blind slang.
   to use obscene language

Derived Forms

• ˈeffing, nounadjectiveadverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of eff¹

1940–45; euphemism for fuck, with eff as spelled form of the name of the initial letter