oof-bird

English

Etymology

UK late 19th century–1910s.

Noun

oof-bird (plural oof-birds)

1. (dated, idiomatic, British slang) Any source or supplier of money.
   • 1888 December 27, The Sportsman:

     It is a sad and weary time for many, for when the dustman, the man who blacks the boots, and he with the grog-blossom on his nose who does nothing but hold cab-doors open when nobody asks him to have all been paid, the oof bird takes unto itself wings and flies away.

   • 1897, Richard Marsh, “The Picture”, in The Beetle:

     The probability is that he's a crackpot; and if he isn't, he has some little game on foot — in close association with the hunt of the oof-bird! — which he tried to work off on me, but couldn't'.

   • 1937 August 28, “The Oof-bird Feeds on Pennies”, in The Argus‎^[1], page 36:

     If you make an oof-bird and feed him properly all the time, you will grow rich.

   • 2003, Peter Van Wyk, “The Call to Monomotapa”, in Burnham: King of Scouts, page 65:

     "I guess you're attracted to Africa by the lure of the Oof bird," Gifford said eagerly smearing a layer of orange marmalade on thick bread roasted over the campfire.

Synonyms

• golden goose, oof-bag

Hyponyms

• feathered oof-bird (“large source”)

References

• John S[tephen] Farmer; W[illiam] E[rnest] Henley, compilers (1902) “oof-bird”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume V, [London: […] Harrison and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 107.