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

In a second the little marquis dropped his daffing manner.

From The Duke's Motto A Melodrama by McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly)

To his humour of daffing I succumbed, and fell into an extraordinary ease with the world.

From A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 by Travis, Stuart

Indeed, to hear them daffing with each other one would have said they had been brought up together instead of being acquaintances of less than three weeks standing.

From A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 by Travis, Stuart

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

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright

It's daffing to lee; it winna deny that the lawing is clean paid.

From The Monastery by Scott, Walter, Sir