different between faff vs baff

English

Etymology

From a dialect word meaning "blow in gusts".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /faf/, /fæf/
• Rhymes: -æf

Noun

faff (plural faffs)

1. (Britain, slang) An overcomplicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:nuisance
2. (typically in the phrase 'in a faff') A state of confused or frantic activity.

   Synonym: flap

Verb

faff (third-person singular simple present faffs, present participle faffing, simple past and past participle faffed)

1. (Britain, slang) To waste time on an unproductive activity.

   Synonyms: arse around, (American) dick around

Usage notes

• Particularly used with about or around.

Cimbrian

Etymology 1

From Middle High German pfaffe, from Old High German pfaffo, phapho, from Latin papa, from Byzantine Greek ????? (papâs), from Koine Greek ????? (pápas), from Ancient Greek ?????? (páppas). Cognate to German Pfaffe, Dutch paap. Doublet of baabost.

Noun

faff m (plural faffen)

1. (Luserna, Sette Comuni) priest

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

faff ?

1. (Luserna) lily (flower)

References

• “faff” in Martalar, Umberto Martello; Bellotto, Alfonso (1974) Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo
• “faff” in Patuzzi, Umberto, ed., (2013) Ünsarne Börtar [Our Words], Luserna, Italy: Comitato unitario delle isole linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bæf/
• Rhymes: -æf

Etymology 1

From Middle English baffen (“to bark”). Cognate with Dutch baffen (“to bark”), Low German baffen (“to bark”), German baffen, bäfzen (“to bark”), Danish bjæffe (“to yelp”), Swedish bjäbba (“to yelp, bark”). Compare buff, yaff.

Verb

baff (third-person singular simple present baffs, present participle baffing, simple past and past participle baffed)

1. (intransitive, archaic) To bark; yelp.

Etymology 2

Probably from Scots baff, beff, bauf, probably from West Flemish baf, baffe (“a blow, slap in the face”). Compare also Old French baffe (“slap in the face”) (Modern French baffe), of imitative origin.

Verb

baff (third-person singular simple present baffs, present participle baffing, simple past and past participle baffed)

1. To hit or strike, especially with something flat or soft.
2. (golf) To strike the ground with the bottom of the club when taking a stroke.

Derived terms

• baffed out

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

baff (uncountable)

1. (Tyneside) blank (Can we add an example for this sense?)

References

• Frank Graham (1987) The New Geordie Dictionary, ?ISBN
• Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4

German

Etymology

Onomatopoeic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /baf/

Adjective

baff (not comparable)

1. (colloquial, chiefly predicative) flabbergasted

Declension

Further reading

• “baff” in Duden online