Definition of the word stop off

The expression "stop off" is a phrasal verb that has been used in English since the mid-19th century. Its origins can be traced back to the nautical phrase "stop and off," which meant to stop a ship and let someone or something go ashore. In the 19th century, as transportation systems such as trains and steamships became more common, the phrase "stop off" began to be used to mean "to stop briefly at a place for a short time." It essentially applies the nautical meaning of "stop and off" to land-based travel, where passengers would "stop off" at a specific location en route to their final destination. The word "stop" in "stop off" serves the same purpose as it does in "stop by" or "stop in," meaning to halt temporarily before continuing the journey. The word "off" in "stop off" is likely derived from the Old English word "of," which means "from." In the context of "stop and off," "off" meant "to go from the ship." In summary, "stop off" is an expression that originated from the nautical phrase "stop and off," which has evolved to mean "to stop briefly at a place for a short time" in land-based transportation like trains or airplanes. Its roots can be traced back to Old English, where "of" meant "from" and referred to letting something or someone go ashore from a ship.