goof

Old English word for a freak or side show performer, i.e. a person who would bite the heads off of animals as public entertainment. More recently used a highly offensive prison and urban slang word translating into 'pedophile' or 'sexual deviant'. Offending 'goofs' are isolated in prison and outcasts in public for fears of being assualted or killed. This would be in a criminology context however. 'Goof' can be used as a harmless noun or verb if the intention of the underground meaning of the word is unknown i.e 'stop goofing around'. In most inner cities in the United States and Canada the word 'goof' would be interpreted as a serious insult i.e. 'fighting words'.