duff

duff · noun¹

Representing a northern England and Scots pronunciation of dough.

duff · noun, adjective²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*dʰewbʰ-“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”
2. English todayduff

Uncertain; probably related to Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”).

duff · noun³

Uncertain; perhaps the same as Etymology 1, above.

duff · verb⁴

Originally thieves' slang; probably a back-formation from duffer.

Duff · proper noun⁵

From the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, from dubh (“dark”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 1800s An error.