daffing

[ daf-ing ]

/ ˈdæf ɪŋ /

noun Scot. and North England.

merriment; playful behavior; foolishness.

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Origin of daffing

First recorded in 1525–35; daff¹ + -ing¹

Words nearby daffing

daemonology, daesh, daff, daffadilly, daffadowndilly, daffing, daffodil, daffy, daft, dafydd ap gruffudd, dafydd ap gwilym

Definition for daffing (2 of 3)

daff¹

[ daf ]

/ dæf /

verb (used without object) Scot. and North England.

to make sport; dally; play.

Origin of daff

1525–35; v. use of daff (obsolete) a fool, Middle English daffe (noun); see daft

Definition for daffing (3 of 3)

daff²

[ daf ]

/ dæf /

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to turn or thrust aside.

Obsolete. to doff.

Origin of daff

First recorded in 1590–1600; alteration of doff

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for daffing

It made no change in him; and it was in his old spirit of mockery and daffing that he began the interview.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 11 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
Miss Mary, she would be daffing with him on his return, with a 'How's her leddyship to-day, Dugald?'
Gilian The Dreamer|Neil Munro
I hae had mony a day's daffing wi' Jean's mither, and they say she bides on wi' them.
Bride of Lammermoor|Sir Walter Scott
To his humour of daffing I succumbed, and fell into an extraordinary ease with the world.
A Daughter of Raasay|William MacLeod Raine

Auld Colley, wi his daffing, looks as he had a notion o the braw wissing o joy Charlie is to get.
The Entail|John Galt

British Dictionary definitions for daffing (1 of 2)

daff¹

/ (dæf) /

noun

informal short for daffodil

British Dictionary definitions for daffing (2 of 2)

daff²

/ (dɑːf) /

verb

(intr) mainly Scot to frolic; play the fool

Word Origin for daff

C16: from obsolete daff fool, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012