coof n [Prob Scots coof a dolt, lout] Nantucket MA obs
A person not a native of Nantucket, sometimes spec a native of Cape Cod.
1825 Nantucket Inquirer (MA) 8 Aug [2]/5, [Letter “To the Editor of the Nantucket Inquirer” reprinted from the Barnstable Gazette:] Have you not some law at Nantucket to prevent animals from transgressing the boundaries of your county, and trespassing on the bounds of our manor? A Coof. 1830 Nantucket Inquirer (MA) 17 Apr [2]/2, A real Coof.—During the late dismal Northeaster . . a long, lean, lank, raw-boned fellow entered our office, and looking sluggishly round with a vacant stare . . “it storms” said the long legged man of the heron tribe. Does it? we inquired. . . “Yes,” replied the great loon, “and dont you think the wind ort to shift?” Most certainly thought we, and blow such an ungainly fellow off the Island. 1834 (1835) Hart Miriam Coffin 1.95 Nantucket MA, Didst thou measure the prints of their feet in the sand, cousin Peleg, as the Coofs say we do those of all strangers? [Footnote to Coofs:] “Off-islanders,”—or people living on the continent: a term of derision or reproach. 1859 Willis Convalescent 254 Nantucket MA, To a “coof” like myself (all persons who have the misfortune not to have been born on Nantucket, are contemptuously called coofs by the happier islanders). 1869 Harper’s New Mth. Mag. 38.527 Nantucket, MA, She always came to Nantucket to Quarterly Meeting . . and folks used to say she wasn’t a bit of a coof, if she was born on the Cape. 1890 DN 1.8, Mr. Daniell spoke of Nantucket usages, such as [kuf] . . applied to a native of Cape Cod. 1895 DN 1.386 Nantucket MA, Coof: local term for all “off-islanders.” 1916 Macy–Hussey Nantucket Scrap Basket 127. 1920 Boston Sun. Globe (MA) [29 Feb] mag sec 15/2, To the Nantucketer the world is divided into three classes—Nantucketers, “off-islanders” and “coofs.” The first two terms are self-explanatory; the “coofs” refer to people who were so unfortunate . . as to have been born on the Cape.