Off , n. (Cricket) The side of the field that is
on the right of the
wicket keeper.
Off , a.
1. On the farther side; most distant; on the side of an animal
or a team farthest from the driver when he is on foot; in the United States, the right side; as, the
off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the nigh or near horse or ox; the off leg.
2. Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is
absent from his post, and,
hence, a time when affairs are not urgent; as, he
took an off day for
fishing: an off year in
politics. "In the off season." Thackeray.
Off side. (a) The right hand side in driving; the farther side. See Gee. (b) (Cricket)
See Off, n.
Off , prep. Not on; away from;
as, to be off one's
legs or off the bed; two
miles off the shore. Addison.
Off hand. See Offhand. --
Off side (Football), out of play; -- said when a player has got in front
of the ball
in a scrimmage, or when the ball
has been last touched by one of his own side behind him. -- To be off color, to be of a wrong color. -- To be off one's food,
to have no appetite. (Colloq.)
Off (?), interj. Away; begone; -- a command to
depart.
Off (?), adv. [OE. of, orig. the same word as
R. of, prep., AS. of, adv. & prep.
√194. See Of.]
In a general sense, denoting from or away
from; as:
1. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house
is a mile
off.
2.
Denoting the action of removing or separating; separation; as, to take off the hat
or cloak; to
cut off, to pare off, to clip off, to peel off, to tear off, to march off, to fly
off, and the like.
3. Denoting a leaving, abandonment, departure, abatement, interruption, or remission; as, the fever goes off; the pain goes off; the game is
off; all bets are off.
4. Denoting a different direction; not on or towards: away; as, to look
off.
5.
Denoting opposition or
negation. [Obs.]
The questions no way touch upon puritanism, either off or on.
Bp.
Sanderson. From off, off from; off. "A live coal . .
. taken with the tongs from off the altar." Is. vi. 6. -- Off and on. (a) Not constantly; not regularly; now and then; occasionally. (b) (Naut.) On different tacks, now toward, and now away from, the land. -- To be off. (a) To depart; to escape; as, he
was off without a moment's warning. (b)
To be abandoned, as an agreement or purpose; as, the bet was declared to be off. [Colloq.] -- To come off, To cut off,
To fall off, To go
off, etc. See under Come, Cut, Fall, Go, etc. -- To get off. (a) To utter; to discharge; as, to get off
a joke. (b) To go away; to escape; as, to get off
easily from a trial. [Colloq.] -- To take off, to mimic or personate. -- To tell off (Mil.), to divide and
practice a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises. Farrow. -- To be well off, to be in good condition. -- To be ill off,
To be badly off, to be in poor condition.
Hear it pronounced