ma-foo

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Chinese Pidgin English

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Cantonese 馬伕马伕 (maa5 fu1).

Noun

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ma-foo

  1. groom (person who cares for horses)
  2. coachman

References

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  • Gow, W. S. P. (1924) Gow’s Guide to Shanghai, 1924: A Complete, Concise and Accurate Handbook of the City and District, Especially Compiled for the Use of Tourists and Commercial Visitors to the Far East, Shanghai, page 106:Ma-foo: groom; horseboy; coachman. “Talkee mafoo come this-side chop-chop.” Tell the groom to hurry here.