vulgar. Also rarely toft. [Perh. a vulgar perversion of TUFT, as formerly applied to a nobleman or gentleman-commoner at Oxford.] An appellation given by the lower classes to a person who is stylishly dressed or who has a smart appearance; a swell; hence, one of the well-to-do, a ‘nob.’
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 217/2. Ibid. (1864), II. 562/1. If it’s a lady and gentleman, then we cries, ‘A toff and a doll!’
1865. Slang Dict., Toft, a showy individual, a swell.
1883. Fortn. Rev., Dec., 852. The poets who are here are tremendous proud toffs.
1900. A. Upward, Eben. Lobb, 130. Nonsense, man,… why, in these days a jockey is no end of a toff.
1901. Essex Weekly News, 29 March, 2/1. She … declared that tramps were treated like toffs at Stanway Workhouse.
b. Sometimes applied in compliment to a person who behaves ‘handsomely’; a ‘brick.’
1898. Brit. Weekly, 27 Jan., 306/2. A Paisley bailie let off a man easier than the culprit expected, and was addressed, ‘Thank you, sir, you’re an old toff.’ This was meant for a compliment.
1906. Daily Chron., 25 May, 4/7. One of the witnesses … spoke of a generous employer as ‘a regular toff.’ ‘Toff’ is perhaps the highest compliment, or the bitterest sneer, according to the tone, that a man who does not make any pretence to magnificence can aim at a man who does.
Hence Toffish, Toffy adjs., like or characteristic of a ‘toff,’ stylish.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 13 Jan., 4/2. He wore a ‘toffish’ side pocket jacket, which fitted him like a glove.
1901. J. K. Jerome, Obs. Henry, 31. Toffy enough she looked in her diamonds and furs.
