doff

American  

[dof, dawf] / dɒf, dɔf /

verb (used with object)

1. to remove or take off, as clothing.

2. to remove or tip (the hat), as in greeting.

3. to throw off; get rid of.

   Doff your stupid ideas and join our side!

4. Textiles.

   1. to strip (carded fiber) from a carding machine.

   2. to remove (full bobbins, material, etc.) from a textile machine.

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noun

1. Textiles.

   1. the act of removing bobbins, material, etc., and stripping fibers from a textile machine.

   2. the material so doffed.

doff British  

/ dɒf /

verb

1. to take off or lift (one's hat) in salutation

2. to remove (clothing)

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Other Word Forms

• doffer noun

Etymology

Origin of doff

1300–50; Middle English, contraction of do off; don ¹

Explanation

Use the verb doff to describe removing something. You probably always doff your cap before the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The word doff and its antonym don date to the mid-14th century. Doff is a contraction of "do (take) off," and don is short for "do (put) on." By 1755, these words were all but obsolete, but they came back into vogue thanks to Sir Walter Scott, author of works like Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Lady of the Lake. The popular Scottish author used them frequently, and he and his readers kept doff and don alive.

Example Sentences

The sellout crowd, which had long been on its feet, continuing cheering, eventually drawing Kershaw back out onto the field to doff his cap in appreciation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

When they arrive, there is a ceremonial greeting, where the Lords doff their black bicorn hats and the Commons representatives acknowledge this by bowing.

From BBC • May 25, 2024

Ms. Stewart’s short chain mail Chanel dress was a fighting mix of armor and crystals, but what really made news was her decision to doff her Christian Louboutin stilettos and walk up the stairs barefoot.

From New York Times • May 10, 2023

It encourages male office workers to doff their suits for open-necked short-sleeve shirts to conserve energy by keeping air conditioning to a minimum in hot summer months.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2022

No official ever decided that respectable men and women were permitted to doff their hats and gloves in the 1960s or to get pierced and tattooed in the 1990s.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker