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zaftig

adjective
zaf·​tig | \ ˈzäf-tig How to pronounce zaftig (audio) , ˈzȯf- How to pronounce zaftig (audio) \
variants: or less commonly \ ˈzȯf-​tig How to pronounce zoftig (audio) \

Definition of zaftig

of a woman
: having a full rounded figure : pleasingly plump
Zaftig Has Yiddish Origins Example Sentences Learn More about zaftig

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Zaftig Has Yiddish Origins

Over the centuries, some women have been approvingly described as full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, and statuesque. Such women are, in a word, zaftig. Zaftig has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived futz, hoo-ha, and schmaltz, not to mention lox). It comes from the Yiddish zaftik, which means "juicy" or "succulent" and which in turn derives from zaft, meaning "juice" or "sap."

Examples of zaftig in a Sentence

The actress playing the lead role was a zaftig blonde.

First Known Use of zaftig

1926, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for zaftig

Yiddish zaftik juicy, succulent, from zaft juice, sap, from Middle High German saf, saft, from Old High German saf — more at sap

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More Definitions for zaftig

zaftig

adjective
How to pronounce zaftig (audio) How to pronounce zaftig (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of zaftig

chiefly US, informal, of a woman : slightly fat in an attractive way : having a full, rounded figure

See the full definition for zaftig in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with zaftig

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