Etymology

mafoo

M3A1F4O1O1

Today it means: In China, someone who looks after horses in a stable; a groom. Full definition →

First used 19th c.Mandarin 馬伕 /马伕
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The story

  1. Mandarin · derived from馬伕 /马伕
  2. English todaymafoo

From Mandarin 馬伕 /马伕 (mǎfū), from 馬 /马 (mǎ, “horse”) + 伕 (fū, “servant, labourer”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 19th c. In China, someone who looks after horses in a stable; a groom.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.