dafflev.
/ˈdaf(ə)l/ dialect or colloquial.
intransitive. To become silly, daft, or faltering; to act stupidly or inanely.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > be or become foolish [verb (intransitive)] > act foolishly
dotec1225
foleyec1374
fop1528
fond1530
daff1535
pract1568
dolt1573
daw1596
fool1597
guck1603
baboonize1611
prat1685
to play the fool1722
niff-naff1728
fopple1756
doitera1790
daffle1796
tomfool1825
to play (also act) the (giddy) goat1841
lallygag1862
silly1877
monkey1878
footle1891
to ass around1899
to play silly buggers (also beggars, bleeders, etc.)1903
to arse around1919
to jackass around1927
nimble-pimble1927
to fuck about1929
to fool up1933
to crap around1936
pantomime1958
prat1961
dork1990
1796 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. (ed. 2) II. 315 ‘He daffles’, he wanders, or falters in his speech or conversation.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour vii. xxxvi. 199 If your old man is done daffling with your draft, I should like to have the pick of it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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