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

At bughts, in the morning, nae blythe lads are scorning,   Lasses are lonely and dowie and wae; Nae daffing, nae gabbing, but sighing and sabbing,   Ilk ane lifts her leglin and hies her away.

From Bulchevy's Book of English Verse by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

It was just daffing, I tell ye: daffing, and nae mair: a piece of fun, like!

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Volume XXI by Stevenson, Robert Louis

Miss Mary, she would be daffing with him on his return, with a 'How's her leddyship to-day, Dugald?' and he would be in a pleasant vexation at this guessing of what he thought his secret.

From Gilian The Dreamer His Fancy, His Love and Adventure 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

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

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume I. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles