offishadj.
/ˈɒfɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈɔfɪʃ/, /ˈɑfɪʃ/ Originally U.S.
Inclined to keep aloof; distant in manner; stand-offish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [adjective] > not affable
strange1338
estrangec1374
formal?1518
cold1557
squeamish1561
icy1567
buckrama1589
repulsive1598
starched1600
unaffable1603
stiff1608
withdrawing1611
reserved1612
aloof1639
cool1641
uncordial1643
inaffable1656
staunch1659
standfra1683
distant1710
starcha1716
distancing1749
pokerish1779
buckramed1793
angular1808
easeless1811
touch-me-not1817
starchy1824
standoffish1826
offish1827
poker-backed1830
standoff1837
stiffish1840
chilly1841
unapproachable1848
hedgehoggy1866
sticky1882
hard-to-get1899
stand-away1938
princesse lointaine1957
1827 C. M. Sedgwick Hope Leslie II. iv. 77 It was not for such a man to be disheartened because a woman seemed a little offish at first.
1834 S. Smith Sel. Lett. Major Jack Downing 146 I find some [folks]..ready to shoulder their guns and march to-morrow,..and others are a little offish.
1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd II. xxii. 274 She's..quite offish and quite careless, I know.
1926 Amer. Mercury Mar. 334/2 She was wary, a little offish with him at first.
a1963 S. Plath Crossing Water (1971) 31 She stopped fitting me so closely and seemed offish.
2000 Independent on Sunday 5 Mar. (Review Suppl.) 40/3 They were society people, but they weren't offish or snobbish.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1827