daff (2)

i. (DAFF, 8] 1. To be foolish, to act foolishly. "Dastard, thou daff's, that with such devilry mels; Thy reason savours of reek, and nothing else." 2. To play, to toy. 1260 3. Giddy, thoughtle . "Quhen ye your self is ar daft and young." Diallog sino Tit. Reign Qu. Mary. 4. Wanton, frolicsome. "However daft they wi' the la es be." Shirref: Poems, p. 68. Daft-days, s. pl. Those called the Christmas holidays. ( Scotch .) daft'-ish, a. [Eng. daft; -ish.] In some degree deranged; a diminutive from daft. daft-like, a. [Eng. daft ; -like .] 1. Having the appearance of folly. "I widna wish this tulyie had been seen, 'Tis sae daft like ."- Ramsay : Poems , ii. 148. 2 Having a strange or awkward appearance. (Scotch.) for fear lest she should 'turn him into some daft like beast,'."-Brownie of Bodsbeck, ., ii. 31. 3. Silly, maniacal, "The other broke suddenly out into an immoderate p. 86. IMG:content-1739.png:[blocks in formation] II. Technically : 1. Fencing: A blunt blade of iron with a basket hilt, used for defense. 2. Printing : A character (†) to call attention in the text to notes on the foot or margin of the page. As a reference-mark it comes next after the star(*). Also called an OBELISK (q. v.). A double dagger (†) is another sign for a similar purpose when references are numerous. ( Knight .) 3. Shipbuilding : A piece of timber cro ing all the poppets of the bulge ways diagonally, to keep them together. (1) To look daggers : To look with an aspect of daft like laugh that was really awful."- The Steam- Boat , the greatest fiercene or animosity. *(2) To speak daggers : To speak with great fiercene and animosity. daft-lý, adv. [Eng. daft; -ly.] 1. Foolishly, like a fool. "Some other chiel may daftly sing, That kens but little of the thing. Ramsay: Works, i. 143. 2. Merrily, gaily. ( Scotch .) IMG:content-1740.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1741.png:[blocks in formation] Polwart : Watson's Coll., iii. 27. *daf-fer-ý, s. [Eng. daff ; -ery.] frolicsomene ; foolery. "That wad be fain her company to get; Wha in her daffery had run o'er the score." Ko : Helenore, p. 90. daf-fing, *daff in, pr. par., a. & s. [DAFF (2), v.] A. As pr. par.: (See the verb.) B. As adj.: Merry, light-hearted. IMG:content-1742.png:[blocks in formation] 3. Loose or indelicate conversation. 4. A derangement of the mind, a frenzy. "Going to France, there he falls into a phrenzie and daffing which keeped him to his death."- Melville : MS., p. 58.