Middle English Dictionary Entry
daffe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | daffe n. |
| Etymology | ?Cp. dafte 2. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Fool, half-wit, idiot; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)99 : If the parsoun have a prest of a clene lyf..Shal comen a daffe and putte him out..That can..unnethe singe a masse.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.129 : Þou dotest, daffe..Dulle are þi wittes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)11.87 : And nou comeþ a Conioun and wolde cacchen of [my] wittes What is Dowel from Dobet! nou daffe mot he worþe!
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4208 : And whan this iape is tald another day, I sal been halden a daffe, a cokenay.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)315/238 : So luitel of þis world he ȝaf þat proude seruauns called him daf, And for a mad mon þei him heold.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.417 : Lat a dronken daffe in a dyke falle..loke nouȝte on hym til hym lest to ryse.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.177 : Herodes, the daffe, ȝaf hus douhter for [a] daunsyng..the hefde Of the blessyde baptiste.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)111 : Daffe or dastard, or he þat spekythe not yn tyme: Oridurus.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)326 : Let not þe post be-cum þy staf, Lest þou be callet a dotet daf.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.55 : Aftere felle to swilk nede this wastoure, lewed daffe, Yat he langvyst to fille his wombe with sory draffe.
b
- (1254) R.Knight's Fees in Archaeol.Cant.12222 : Robertus le Daf.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2332 : Lefeke Daffe.