woof
woof
UK[wʊf]US[wʊf]
n
The deep, gruff barking sound made by a large dog.
v
To make the deep, gruff barking sound characteristic of a large dog.
n
The crosswise threads on a loom that are interlaced with the warp threads to form fabric; the weft.
Etymology
The primary meaning of 'woof' as a dog's bark is a classic example of onomatopoeia, a word formed from the imitation of a natural sound. Its first recorded use in this sense dates to the early 19th century, capturing the abrupt, guttural quality of a canine vocalization. The unrelated weaving term 'woof' (meaning weft) has a distinct lineage, evolving from Old English 'ōwef', itself related to 'wefan' (to weave). These two words converged in spelling and pronunciation by the 16th century, creating a homograph pair where the sound-imitative 'woof' eventually became the more common usage.
Analysis
This is an onomatopoeic simplex word. Its form is an imitation of the sound it represents. The weaving-related sense is a separate homograph, originating from Old English 'ōwef', a variant of 'weft'.
Examples
The large dog let out a loud, intimidating woof.
The neighbor's mastiff woofed at the mail carrier every morning.
The vibrant red wool was used for the woof, creating a striking pattern against the white warp.