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

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

From The Bride of Lammermoor by Scott, Walter, Sir

Jokes and songs and daffing of all kinds were alien to his nature.

From A Knight of the Nets by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston

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

From The Nursery Rhymes of England by Various

If I leave the fireside for a minute or two, everything stops but daffing till I get back again.

From A Knight of the Nets by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston