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.
From Middle English daffen (“to render foolish”), from daf, daffe (“fool, idiot”). See above.
Meanings
(Scotland, intransitive) To be foolish; make sport; play; toy.
Left thus for long spaces in the company of Betty and the child, that daffed and croddled about her, and even became warmly friendly with me for the sake of my Paris watch and my glittering waistcoat buttons, I made many gallant attempts to get on my old easy footing. 1898 July, Neil Munro, “John Splendid: The Tale of a Poor Gentleman and the Little Wars of Lorn”, in The Living Age, volume 218, page 185:
As the afternoon progressed, we become 'daffed' out. 2011, Kevan Manwaring, Turning the Wheel:
They admired and loved each other—enjoyed easy circumstances—had duties to discharge which they did not neglect; and, clear in conscience as light of heart, laughed, sung, danced, daffed the world aside, and bid it pass. 1822, Sir Walter Scott, The Pirate:
We'll hauld our court mid the roaring lins, And daff in the lashan' tide 1820 May, unknown author, “Marmaiden of Clyde”, in Edinburgh Magazine:
(UK, dialectal, obsolete) To daunt.
"Perhaps, most Elysian of fair ladies, it would be, as one might say, more seemly if I, as a justice of the peace—" Brilliana daffed him down. 1904, Justin Huntly McCarthy, The Lady of Loyalty House, page 226:
I made out—to put it clearly—that the Sultan had been far gone in his cups when Kiamil appeared before him; that he had called the Basha such 'daffing' names as 'renegade dog,' 'toothless old hound,' 'hound without scent, that could not smell out an intrigue under his nose;' which agreeable epithets doubtless were flung about because Lorimer, and not he, had got wind of the conspiracy of the notables. 1894, James MacLaren Cobban, The Red Sultan: A Story of Adventure, page 295:
Young Tam came up and eyed me quick With reddened cheek—Braw Tam was daffed like a chick—He could na speak—Ah Marie they are all gane hame 1818, John Keats, To Thomas Keats:
Such is the record of Scripture. Nor can you daff it aside by saying that local and temporary conditions condemned women to silence and private life. 1948, CS Lewis, Notes on the Way:
DON PEDRO. I would she had bestowed this dotage on me; I would have daffed all other respects and made her half myself. 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
Like spending money, it goes with the territory. So if he wants the price of the daffs and the Black Magic returned, why shouldn't we be compensated for having to put up with the less profitable side of romance? 1999 April 19, Victoria Coren, “I don't love you. PS: you owe me £2.50”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
You want a few more daffs on the decani side […] 1934, Dorothy L. Sayers, The Nine Tailors:
Some of my interviewees stated that they were surprised that pianists do not include daff parts on recordings of these pieces since the daff dramatically changes the sound of the music, while other interviewees said that they found the sound of the piano and daff together uninspiring. 2015, Johanna Petsche, Gurdjieff and Music, page 119:
Thus, there is considerable debate going on among Chaush whether performing daff music is in accordance with Islamic law or not, 2008, Helene Basu, Journeys and Dwellings, page 299: