daffing

American  

[daf-ing] / ˈdæf ɪŋ /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. silliness; playful behavior; merriment;

2. Archaic. insanity.

---

Etymology

Origin of daffing

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

Example Sentences

Hout awa', auld carle," said the old dame, "to speak sic daffing to young folk.

From The Bride of Lammermoor by Scott, Walter, Sir

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

And with his merry daffing, He set them all a laughing.

From The Nursery Rhymes of England by Various

Ghaist! my certie, I shall ghaist them—if they had their heads as muckle on their wark as on their daffing they wad play na sic pliskies—it's the wanton steed that scaurs at the windlestrae.

From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, Alexander

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