awfyn

Middle English

Alternative forms

• alfyn, alphyn, alphyne, aufen, aufyn

Etymology

From Middle French alfin, from Old Spanish alfil, arfil, from Arabic الفِيل (al-fīl, “the elephant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈalfin/, /ˈau̯fin/

Noun

awfyn (plural awfyns) (Late Middle English)

1. bishop (chess piece)
2. (derogatory) A useless person.

Descendants

• English: alfin, alphin

References

• “aufin, -en, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.