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Duff vs Cuff - What's the difference?

duff | cuff |

As a proper noun duff

is .

As a noun cuff is

(obsolete) glove; mitten or cuff can be a blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.

As a verb cuff is

to furnish with cuffs or cuff can be to hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.

duff

English

Etymology 1

Representing a northern pronunciation of (dough).

Noun

(en noun)
  • (dialectal) Dough.
  • A stiff flour pudding, often with dried fruit, boiled in a cloth bag, or steamed
  • * 1901 , , short story The Ghosts of Many Christmases'', published in ''Children of the Bush [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/7065]:
    • The storekeeper had sent them an unbroken case of canned plum pudding, and probably by this time he was wondering what had become of that blanky case of duff .

    Etymology 2

    Origin uncertain; probably imitative.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Scotland, US) Decaying vegetable matter on the forest floor.
  • * 1999 , (George RR Martin), A Clash of Kings , Bantam 2011, p. 366:
    • Out under the trees, some rangers had found enough duff and dry wood to start a fire beneath a slanting ridge of slate.
  • Coal dust.
  • (slang) The bits left in the bottom of the bag after the booty has been consumed, like crumbs.
  • Something spurious or fake; a counterfeit, a worthless thing.
  • An error.

    • Adjective

    (er)
  • (UK) Worthless; not working properly, defective.
    • Why do I always get a shopping trolley with duff wheels?
  • * 1996 , , State of Desire , page 155,
    • From its surface, he insisted, plain food became ambrosia, water nectar, and the duffest dope would blow your mind.
  • * 2003 , , page 315,
    • One will win the coveted Hollywood Science Award, which, in Robert?s words “is given in recognition of the duffest science in movie-dom” so it will be worth tuning in to find out what movie stunt wins.
  • * 2009 , , Paperboy , page 225,
    • All the other parts were played by a gallery of Dickensian character actors, including Thorley Walters, Francis Matthews and, yes, Michael Ripper, who lent gravitas to the duffest dialogue lines.
    Synonyms
    * (defective) bum (US)

    Etymology 3

    Origin uncertain; perhaps the same as Etymology 1, above.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, slang) The buttocks.

    • Etymology 4

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

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (slang, obsolete) To disguise something to make it look new.
  • (Australia) To alter the branding of stolen cattle; to steal cattle.
  • To beat up.
    • I heard Nick got duffed up behind the shopping centre at the weekend.
  • (US, golf) To hit the ground behind the ball.
    • Related terms
    * duffer

    See also

    * up the duff

    cuff

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cuffe, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) glove; mitten.
  • The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist.
  • The end of a pants leg, folded up.
    • Related terms
    * cufflinks * turnup * off-the-cuff

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To furnish with cuffs.
  • To handcuff.

    • Etymology 2

    1520, “to hit”, apparently of (etyl) origin, from (etyl) . More at (l), (l), (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
  • * Dryden
    • They with their quills did all the hurt they could, / And cuffed the tender chickens from their food.
  • To fight; to scuffle; to box.
  • * Dryden
    • While the peers cuff to make the rabble sport.
  • To buffet.
  • * Tennyson
    • cuffed by the gale

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
  • * Spenser
    • Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies; / Who well it wards, and quitten cuff with cuff.
  • * Hudibras
    • Many a bitter kick and cuff .