different between faff vs raff

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): /?æf/

Etymology 1

From Middle English raf, from Old French raffer, of Germanic origin; compare German raffen, akin to rap (“to snatch”). Compare riffraff, rip (“to tear”).

Noun

raff (countable and uncountable, plural raffs)

1. A promiscuous heap; a jumble; a large quantity; lumber; refuse.
   • 1680, Isaac Barrow, A Discourse Concerning The Unity Of The Church

     A raff of errors.

2. The common rabble or mob; riffraff.
3. A low fellow; a churl.

Derived terms

• raff merchant

Verb

raff (third-person singular simple present raffs, present participle raffing, simple past and past participle raffed)

1. To sweep, snatch, draw, or huddle together; to take by a promiscuous sweep.
   • 1602, Richard Carew, Survey of Cornwall

     Causes and effects which I thus raffe up together.

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• raffe
• raffie

Noun

raff (plural raffs)

1. (nautical) A three-cornered sail set on a schooner when before the wind.

Anagrams

• FFAR

German

Pronunciation

Verb

raff

1. singular imperative of raffen
2. (colloquial) first-person singular present of raffen

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ra?f/

Noun

raff

1. Soft mutation of rhaff.

Mutation

Further reading

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present) , “raff”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies