Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also boof) a fool, an idiot, a simpleton; thus their physical head, also attrib.; thus adj. boofheaded, stupid.

1895		Coburg Leader (Vic.) 28 Sept. 4/1: Doolev says Prim and Gogs are the two biggest boof-heads in Coburg. So say all of us.
1909		Punch (Melbourne) 9 Dec. 5/1: More people have been drowned while some idiot of a man was trying to induce a boof-headed tyke to go to the rescue than were ever saved by the intervention of our wretched friend, Carlo.
1915		Punch (Melbourne) 30 Sept. 519/1: These boof-headed Teutons will continue to entertain high opinions of themselves [...] but, in reality, they are blunderers of the worst sort.
1924		Don Dorrigo Gaz. (NSW) 5 Nov. 4/4: The constable[ ...] admitted that the word ‘Boof’ was an abbreviation of a nick-name applied to him — the full title was ‘Boofhead’ — and he object ed to it, as he considered it insulting.
1934		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 8 SEPT. 5/3: Britt had ridden him a nice race but Big Head was a boof-head over the last half furlong, stopping to a walk.
1939		Western Mail (Perth) 6 Apr. 11/1: ‘Waal,’ replied the Yank, ‘I guess you’re lucky. I was here only two days and they were calling me a ‘boof-headed — .’.
1941		‘Boofhead’ in Truth (Brisbane) 28 Sept. 20: [strip cartoon] What’s the matter, Boofhead? This match won’t light. What’s the matter with it? I dunno.
1955		J. Morrison Black Cargo 76: Tell that to the shipowners, boof-head!
1968		(con. 1940s) G. Dutton Andy 42: Now look, boofhead, your job is guarding me.
1972		A. Chipper Aussie Swearers Guide 62: Boofhead. Person with a head like a boof, mythical Dream Time beast with a head the size of a boabab tree, and brain the size of a pea.
1982		G. Newbold Big Huey 245: boofhead (n) Moron, imbecile.
1986		R.G. Barrett Real Thing 14: I’d stick [...] a grey wig on your big boofhead and purt you in charge.
1990		R.G. Barratt ‘TV Ads’ in What Do You Reckon (1997) [ebook] Up bowls this boofheaded cow-cocky.
1992		K. Lette Llama Parlour 58: He was a total boof-head, a banana-bender.
1992		M. Coleman Fatty 304: ‘I heard there were about half a dozen blokes who were laughing along, but they were probably boofhead Queenslanders like him’.
1993		T. Winton Lockie Leonard: Scumbuster (1995) 95: Get off me, you boofhead!
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 26/2: boofhead n. 1 a moron, an imbecile.
2002		Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney) 11 July 40: Who they [i.e UK cricketers] are individually, and what their talents might be collectively, seem to be factors of complete irrelevance to the boofheads and bean counters who run the game.
2009		P. Temple Truth 35: He’s a boofhead [...] Always been one.
2013		D. Whish-Wilson Zero at the Bone [ebook] ‘Don’t give up, boof!’.
2020		Twitter 8 Mar. 🌐 @Peter_Fitz [...] chooses to overlook all facts, details, and nuances. Boof-head!

2. attrib. use of sense 1.

1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 242: You don’t want to be held up by [...] boofhead reporters.
2003		Bug (Aus.) Apr. 🌐 Now I know [...] that these boofhead players sign contracts to behave and they’re supposed to be role models for young kiddies, etc, etc.

3. a person or animal having a large head and/or body.

1946		R. Rivett Behind Bamboo 395/1: Boof head, one with a big head.
1948		R. Raven-Hart Canoe in Aus. 108: I saw pelicans in flight [...] ‘boof-heads’ as Bevan called them.
1985		R.G. Barrett You Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids (1989) 91: [of a dog] He gave King’s big boof head another pat.
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 26/2: boofhead 3 a person with a very large build.

4. (N.Z. prison) a P?keh?

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 26/2: boofhead 2 P?keh?

5. (N.Z. prison) a paedophile.

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 26/2: 4 a paedophile .