goofer

1 of 2

noun (1)

goof·​er

ˈgüfə(r)

plural -s

: goof

had a considerable understanding of goofers because … he was a little goofy himself

—Esther Forbes

goofer

2 of 2

noun (2)

goo·​fer

"

variants or less commonly guffer

ˈgəfə(r)

plural -s

1

chiefly southern U.S. and African American English : a traditional conjurer or healer

especially : a voodoo doctor

2

: a curse or spell

put the goofer on us

—J. S. Redding

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

goof entry 1 + -er

Noun (2)

of African origin; akin to Mende ngafa spirit, ghost, Ewe ga³fe³ shrine of a god, Fon kafo iron fetish

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