offish

[ aw-fish, of-ish ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. aloof; unapproachable; standoffish.

offish

/ ˈɒfɪʃ /

adjective

1. informal.
   aloof or distant in manner

Derived Forms

• ˈoffishly, adverb
• ˈoffishness, noun

Other Words From

• offish·ly adverb
• offish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of offish¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; off + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

I let that down, baited, and I waited to see what sort offish I would catch.

From Literature

But the only man who takes an interest in him is an offish fellow named Fitzgerald.

From Washington Post

Within a couple of weeks of me moving in we went out for a meal, and as we came back he was basically quite offish with me, and I just didn't understand.

From BBC

Everybody went fishing and everybody caught a lot offish.

From Literature

With no other food coming into the city, the price offish was ten times what it had been before the war, and still rising.

From Literature