daffing

American  

[daf-ing] / ˈdæf ɪŋ /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. silliness; playful behavior; merriment;

2. Archaic. insanity.

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Etymology

Origin of daffing

First recorded in 1525–35; daff ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

And then will come dancing and daffing, And reelin' and crossin' o' han's, Till even auld Lucky is laughing, As back by the aumry she stan's.

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume I. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles

Mary Hope," he used to say to her in his daffing way, "your scones are better than your father's law.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

I never had much daffing or nonsense about me, and did not like any of it in other folk, but I had lots of sweethearts.

From Mr. Hogarth's Will by Spence, Catherine Helen

"And loon," Burns threw in, daffing with her.

From Nancy Stair A Novel by Lane, Elinor Macartney

You are aye daffing, Ian; I am o’er busy for nonsense the now.

From An Orkney Maid by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston