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

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

When his lordship was in his study, our daffing was in Gaelic, for her ladyship, though a Morton, and only learning the language, loved to have it spoken about her.

From John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn by Munro, Neil

This was the more characteristic, as, for all his daffing, he was a modest and very polite little fellow among ourselves.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 2 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis

“Is there any reason to refrain from laughing and daffing while at that work?”

From An Orkney Maid by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston

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)