English Explanatory Dictionary

daff

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A fool; an idiot; a blockhead.
verb
  1. To be foolish; make sport; play; toy.
  2. To daunt.
verb
  1. To toss (aside); to dismiss.
  2. To turn (someone) aside; divert.
noun
  1. Clipping of daffodil.
noun
  1. Alternative form of daf (“type of drum”).
noun
  1. A preparation of gypsum once used to adulterate food products.

Pronunciation

/dæf/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-daff.wav

Word forms

daff daffs daffing daffed

Etymology

From Middle English daf, daffe (“fool, idiot”), from Old Norse daufr (“deaf, stupid”), from Proto-Germanic *daubaz (“deaf, stunned”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, whirl, smoke, be obscure”). Doublet of deaf, dof, and dowf. Cognate with Swedish döv (“deaf”), Danish døv (“deaf, stupid”). More at deaf.

Derived words

bedaff daffish daffock daffy daffing daffle
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