Added 9 October 2026
jaffa
/ˈd͡ʒæfə/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about jaffa at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A port in western Israel on the Mediterranean; incorporated into Tel Aviv in 1950.
Origin
From Jaffa, an ancient port city in Israel from which the oranges were exported. The sense "impotent male" is a reference to being "seedless"; see seed. The cricketing sense, of a 'sweet ball' (from the bowler's perspective), is a metaphor further reinforced in Australian English where Jaffa is also a trademark for a popular lolly that is red and round.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)