waffn.
/waf/, U.S. /wæf/, Scottish English /waf/ Scottish and northern.
1.
a. A waving movement; esp. waving of the hand or something held in the hand: cf. waft n.1 5, 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > signal made by waving > [noun]
waving1563
waff1678
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > [noun] > waving, esp. of hand > instance of
waff1678
wave1688
waft1709
1678 Rec. Justiciary Edinb. 13 Sept. in H. Arnot Hist. Edinb. (1779) i. v. 194 The devil..baptised you upon the face, with an waff of his hand like a dewing.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 296 With Orders if they saw 3 Sail in the Offing, to make 3 Waffs with their Colours.
1831 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae lv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 537 Beggars..that wou'd na understan' the repulse..o' a waff o' the haun to be awa' wi' theirsells.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Waff, the movement of a large flame from side to side.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Waff, a wave of the hand. The kind of flag or signal used at sea for assistance to the ship from the shore.
1886 ‘H. Haliburton’ Horace (1900) 93 Wi' ae waff o' my wings I soar A mile abune the city's roar.
1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 89 These..youths..first extinguishing his light. This one of them did by a smart ‘waff’ of his bonnet.
b. to put out or set forth a waff: to wave something as a signal. Cf. waft n.1 6b, waif n.2 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > signal made by waving > signal by waving [verb (intransitive)]
wave1513
to put out or set forth a waff1600
to make a waft1653
1600 in Earl of Cromarty Hist. Acct. Conspiracies (1713) 105 And when you are about Half a Mile from Shoar, as it were passing by the House, to gar set forth a Waff.
1685 J. Barclay tr. A. Skene Surv. Aberdeen 215 And as soon as ye come to the Road, ye can allwayes have a Boat for putting out a Vaiffe at all occasions, for Piloting you into the Harbour.
2.
a. A puff, passing gust, sudden blast (of wind or air). literal and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > [noun] > a movement of air > a blast or puff of air
blasta1000
pufflOE
huff1600
waft1650
waff1674
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > blast or gust of
ghosteOE
blasta1000
blas?c1225
ragec1405
blorec1440
flaw1513
thud1513
flaga1522
fuddera1522
flake1555
flan1572
whid?1590
flirta1592
gust1594
berry1598
wind-catch1610
snuff1613
stress1625
flash1653
blow1655
fresh1662
scud1694
flurry1698
gush1704
flam1711
waff1727
flawer1737
Roger's Blasta1825
flaff1827
slat1840
scart1861
rodges-blast1879
huffle1889
slap1890
slammer1891
Sir Roger1893
the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > [noun] > a movement of air > a current of air > rush of air caused by moving body
wind1553
waft1650
waff1836
windage1889
1674 R. Fleming Faithfulness of God ii. 60 A waffe as it were of the glorious God doth go by to the discerning of others.
1727 P. Walker Some Remarkable Passages Semple, Welwood & Cameron 150 Mr. George Barclay..got a Waff of that murthering East-wind in the 1679.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian ii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 38 This increase of profit at Saint Leonard's Crags, may be a cauld waff of wind blawing from the frozen land of earthly self.
1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie II. xvii. 162 We maun gie something to the young woman and the bairns, that we may get a waff o' their good will likewise.
1836 Scott. Mag. July 208 It was not the Highland strength turn'd them that day, But the waff o' the broad-swords that blew them away.
1897 Northumbld. Gloss. (at cited word) ‘The waff o' the train’—the rush of air caused by a passing train.
b. A whiff (of perfume), an odour. Cf. weffe n.1
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [noun]
smacka1000
breathOE
smella1175
irea1300
weffea1300
thefa1325
relesec1330
odour?c1335
incensea1340
flair1340
savoura1350
smellingc1386
flavourc1400
fumec1400
reflairc1400
air?a1439
scent?1473
taste?c1475
verdure1520
senteur1601
waft1611
effluvium1656
fluor1671
burning scent1681
aura1732
fumet1735
snuff1763
olfacient1822
odouret1825
waff1827
gush1841
sniff1844
tang1858
nose1894
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 29 A canny waff o' sweet perfume Was blawn in breezes throu' the room.
1887 J. Service Life Dr. Duguid iii. ii. 245 The waff of the wild roses..cam in stoons of sweetness alang the air.
3.
a. A slight blow, esp. one given by something in passing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > [noun] > a slight or light blow
touchc1325
tapc1400
popc1425
tickc1440
tipa1466
tit1546
bob1611
waffa1754
a1754 E. Erskine Serm. Abraham rejoicing in Wks. (1791) II. 536 A very little waff of any thing will do it [sc. the eye] hurt.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Waff, 3. A slight stroke from any soft body, especially in passing.
b. A slight attack or ‘touch’ (of illness, esp. of cold).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] > bout or attack of > slight attack
spicea1479
touch1600
smatch1647
brush1733
waff1808
whiff1837
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Waff 4. A sudden affection, producing a bodily ailment. Thus..it is said that one has gotten a waff or waif of cauld.
1821 J. Galt Steam-boat vii I found myself in a very disjasked state..with a waff of cold that had come upon me.
4. A passing view, a glimpse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > sight of something > [noun] > glimpse
sightc1275
gliff1570
glemish1576
glent?1577
glimpse1580
interview1610
catch1775
styme1776
vizy1785
peep1793
snatch1816
waff1818
glint1838
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xiv, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 349 I sought every glen and cleuch..but teil a waff of his coat-tail could I see.
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 28 That the bauld-bosom'd clerk mith get A waff o' his face ere aff he set.
1887 J. Service Life Dr. Duguid iii. i. 242 It is but seldom,—only at meal times, and aften no' then,—that we get a waff of him ava.
5. An apparition, wraith. = waft n.1 7.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > ghost or phantom > [noun]
soulOE
huea1000
ghostOE
fantasyc1325
spiritc1350
phantomc1384
phantasmc1430
haunterc1440
shadowa1464
appearance1488
wraith1513
hag1538
spoorn1584
vizarda1591
life-in-death1593
phantasma1598
umbra1601
larve1603
spectre1605
spectrum1611
apparitiona1616
shadea1616
shapea1616
showa1616
idolum1619
larva1651
white hat?1693
zumbi1704
jumbie1764
duppy1774
waff1777
zombie1788
Wild Huntsman1796
spook1801
ghostie1810
hantua1811
preta1811
bodach1814
revenant1823
death-fetch1826
sowlth1829
haunt1843
night-bat1847
spectrality1850
thivish1852
beastie1867
ghost soul1869
barrow-wight1891
resurrect1892
waft1897
churel1901
comeback1908
1777 J. Brand Observ. Pop. Antiq. 99 There is a similar Superstition among the Vulgar in Northumberland: They call it seeing the Waff of the Person whose Death it foretells.
1815 Dangerous Secr. II. 163 Your honour forgets I fand my dear maister mysel, an' saw him laid in the cauld grave. It's been his waff.
1884 W. Besant Dorothy Forster xiii There is the wauf, or figure of the person about to die seen by another person.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
waffadj.
/waf/, U.S. /wæf/, Scottish English /waf/ Scottish.
1. Of an animal: Wandering, stray. Also of a person: ‘Solitary’; said ‘of one who is in a strange place where he has not a single acquaintance’ (Jamieson 1808).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > [adjective] > wandering
waff1720
vagrant1743
accidental1821
1720 A. Ramsay Patie & Roger 10 [She] then bade me hound my Dog To weer up three waff Ews were on the Bog.
1776 D. Herd Anc. & Mod. Sc. Songs (ed. 2) II. Gloss. Waff, wandering by itself.
2. Of a person, condition of life: Of no account, worthless.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless
naughteOE
unworthc960
nought worthOE
unworthya1240
vaina1300
lewd1362
base?1510
to be nothing toc1520
stark naught1528
nothing worth1535
worthilessa1542
draffish1543
baggage1548
dunghill?1555
valureless1563
toyish1572
worthless1573
out (forth) of door (also doors)1574
leaden1577
riff-raff1577
drafty1582
fecklessc1586
dudgeon?1589
nought-worth1589
tenpenny1592
wanwordy?a1595
shotten herring1598
nugatory1603
unvalued1604
priceless1614
unvaluable1615
valuelessa1616
waste1616
trashya1620
draffy1624
stramineous1624
invaluable1640
roly-poly?1645
nugatorious1646
perquisquilian1647
niffling1649
lazy1671
wanworth1724
little wortha1754
flimsy1756
waff1788
null1790
nothingy1801
nothingly1802
twopenny-halfpenny1809
not worth a flaw1810
garbage1817
peanut1836
duffing1839
trash1843
no-account1845
no-count1851
punky1859
rummagy1872
junky1880
skilligalee1883
footle1894
punk1896
wherry-go-nimble1901
junk1908
rinky-dink1913
schlock1916
tripe1927
duff1938
chickenshit1940
sheg-up1941
expendable1942
(strictly) for the birds1943
tripey1955
schlocky1960
naff1964
dipshit1968
cack1978
1788 E. Picken Poems & Epist. 248 Gloss. Waff, little worth.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Waff, Waif, Wayf, adj... 3. Worthless. A waff fellow, one whose conduct is immoral; or whose character is so bad, that those, who regard their own, will not associate with him.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 342 Is not it an odd thing that ilka waf carle in the country has a son and heir, and that the house of Ellangowan is without male succession?
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott II. viii. 306 ‘I dinna think there's a waufer (shabbier) thing in the world than to be a lassie, to sit boring at a clout’.
a1884 J. Russell Reminisc. Yarrow (1894) i. 7 A wauf hand [i.e. a bad preacher].
Compounds
waff-like adj. shabby-looking; having a suspicious or disreputable appearance; feeble, of little account.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible
unworthlyc1230
wretcha1250
seely1297
vilec1320
not worth a cress (kerse)1377
the value of a rushc1380
threadbarec1412
wretched1450
miserable?a1513
rascal1519
prettya1522
not worth a whistlea1529
pegrall1535
plack1539
pelting1540
scald1542
sleeveless1551
baggage1553
paltering1553
piddling1559
twopenny1560
paltry1565
rubbish1565
baggagely1573
pelfish1577
halfpenny1579
palting1579
baubling1581
three-halfpenny1581
pitiful1582
triobolar1585
squirting1589
not worth a lousea1592
hedge1596
cheap1597
peddling1597
dribbling1600
mean1600
rascally1600
three-farthingc1600
draughty1602
dilute1605
copper1609
peltry?a1610
threepenny1613
pelsy1631
pimping1640
triobolary1644
pigwidgeon1647
dustya1649
fiddling1652
puddlinga1653
insignificant1658
piteous1667
snotty1681
scrubbed1688
dishonourable1699
scrub1711
footy1720
fouty1722
rubbishing1731
chuck-farthing1748
rubbishy1753
shabby1753
scrubby1754
poxya1758
rubbishly1777
waff-like1808
trinkety1817
meanish1831
one-eyed1843
twiddling1844
measly1847
poking1850
picayunish1852
vild1853
picayune1856
snide1859
two-cent1859
rummagy1872
faddling1883
finicking1886
slushy1889
twopence halfpenny1890
jerk1893
pissy1922
crappy1928
two-bit1932
piddly1933
chickenshit1934
pissing1937
penny packet1943
farkakte1960
pony1964
gay1978
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [adjective] > of inferior quality or value or appearance
poorc1300
vile1526
mangya1529
fine1565
palterlya1637
scrubby1754
nice1798
shabby1805
waff-like1808
neat1824
chronic1861
tacky1862
shamblya1937
tatty1940
low-rent1966
scrungy1974
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Waff-like, one [sic] who has a very shabby or suspicious appearance.
1823 J. Galt Ringan Gilhaize III. xix. 180 Though the folk afore the house are but a wee waff-like.
1882 J. Walker Descr. Jaunt to Auld Reekie 46 A coat o' rusty black The wauflike wretch has on his back.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xxiii. 270 I came upon a lane of lighted houses, the doors and windows thronged with wauf-like painted women.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
waffv.1
/waf/ Chiefly northern.† 1. transitive. To put away with a wave of the hand. Obsolete.† 2. intransitive. To blow (as the wind). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > set aside > (as) with a wave of the hand
waffc1440
waive1832
wave1841
c1440 York Myst. xxxi. 248 ii Dux... Youre fauchone hym flaies... Rex. Nowe lely I leue þe, And therfore schall y waffe it away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)]
blowc1000
standc1275
waffc1440
respire?a1475
fan1600
suffle1622
c1440 York Myst. xii. 54 Þir wise wordis ware noght wroght in waste, To waffe and wende away als wynde.
3.
a. transitive. Of the wind: To cause (something) to move to and fro.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (a blast) (of the wind [verb (transitive)] > blow to and fro
waff1553
1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados i. vi. 26 16 b Venus..With wind waffing [v.r. waving] hir haris lowsit of trace.
1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados vi. viii. 113 Quhidder waffit vilsum by storm of the se, Or at command of goddis, come thow, quod he?
b. intransitive. To wave to and fro; to flutter in the wind; also transitive of a bird, to move (the wings) in flight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > flight > [verb (transitive)] > flap the wings
clapc1400
hover1605
flab?1785
flaff1827
waff1834
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > wave in the wind
rotec1330
waive1338
waverc1440
wafterc1450
wave1487
to waver with or in the windc1503
streama1560
flaunt1576
wift1609
fly1659
waff1834
flare1837
1834 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae lxvii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 263 Rover begins snokin' and twinin' himsell in a serpentine style,..wi' his fanlike tail whaffin'.
1856 J. Ballantine Poems 59 The rags waffin' round her wad wauken ruth In a mair stieve~breasted chield than me.
1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie (1863) 72 Aff they set on tiptae flicht, Waffin' their wee bit wings wi' micht.
4. intransitive. To produce a current of air by waving something to and fro. Also transitive, to direct a current of air against, to fan.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > move (of air) [verb (intransitive)] > produce current of air > by waving something
waff1688
the world > matter > gas > air > fresh air > freshen (air) [verb (transitive)] > supply with fresh air or ventilate
vent1601
ventilate1758
waffa1878
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 91/1 [Among goldsmiths and jewellers] Waffing is clearing the Stones from Dust with a Pencill.
a1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage to Land of Burns & Poems (1892) 190 Waffing her wan face wi' a claith.
1886 J. Barrowman Gloss. Sc. Mining Terms 69 To Waff, or Waft, to fan out. Fire~damp was formerly expelled from the working rooms by waffing.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† waffv.2
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To convey by sea; = waft v.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > transportation by water > transport by water [verb (transitive)]
fraughtc1425
ship1436
waff1586
waft1594
float1739
navigate1795
1586 W. Warner Albions Eng. iii. xviii. 74 He waffes an Armie out of Fraunce, and Voada pursewes.
1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 374 He imbarked for Normandie to waffe them into England.
1655 E. Terry Voy. E.-India 137 Those huge vessels [sc. Junks] are..made exceeding big, on purpose to waff passengers forward and backward.
2. intransitive. To sail. Also transitive. To sail (the seas).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > [verb (intransitive)]
sailc893
lithec900
fleetc1275
ship13..
assailc1450
waft?a1562
sneir1568
sulk1579
single1587
navigate1588
waff1611
passage1791
society > travel > travel by water > [verb (transitive)]
saila1382
sulk1579
upharrow1582
plough1589
waff1611
navigate1646
voyage1667
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. i. 183/2 Volusenus returned, hauing waffed vpon the coasts of Britaine so far, as with safety he might.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vii. xxxviii. 364/1 His nauie waffing along those seas.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vii. xlii. 370/1 His Nauie roiall..he diuided into three parts, appointing euery of them to a seuerall quarter to waffe the Seas.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
waffv.3
/waf/ Now dialect.
intransitive. Of a dog, esp. of a puppy: To yelp.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [verb (intransitive)] > bark
barkc885
galec1275
abayc1400
baffc1440
bawl1556
waff1570
baugh1576
prate1592
gladish1608
waffle1698
yamph1718
woof1804
allatrate1806
yaff1808
bow-wow1832
yaffle1847
kyoodle1935
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [verb (intransitive)] > howl or yelp
galec1275
yawpc1400
baffc1440
yelp1553
bawl1556
waff1570
bewh1581
yap1668
yamph1718
nyaff1808
yaff1808
yaffle1847
yappet1868
ki-yi1869
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [interjection] > bark
baw-waw1576
bow-wowa1616
yow1820
woof1839
youf1842
ruff1870
ouff1898
ouch1899
waff1922
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Nii/1 To Woff like a dog, latritare.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. ii. 188 Women too throughout the same County barked like big dogges: but the children and little ones waughed as small whelpes.
1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Waughing, barking. Probably from the sound. N.
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs. Waff, or waffle, to bark, yelp. A dog ran waffing out.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words (at cited word) A dog ‘woughs’, but a puppy waffs.
1922 Chambers's Jrnl. Aug. 492 Whoff! Whoff!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1600adj.1720v.1c1440
v.21586v.31570