different between laff vs baff
laff
English
Noun
laff (plural laffs)
- (chiefly humorous) Alternative spelling of laugh
Verb
laff (third-person singular simple present laffs, present participle laffing, simple past and past participle laffed)
- (chiefly humorous) Alternative spelling of laugh
German
Etymology
From German Low German [Term?], in which it is either inherited from Middle Low German [Term?] (seemingly not attested), or borrowed from Middle Dutch laf (early 15th century). Compare modern Dutch laf (“cowardly”). Cognate with German labberig (“slack; not crisp”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /laf/
Adjective
laff (comparative laffer, superlative am laffsten)
- (regional, chiefly northern and central Germany) lethargic; weak; slack
- (regional, chiefly northern and central Germany) tasteless
Declension
Synonyms
- (lethargic): schlapp
- (tasteless): fad
Related terms
- labberig
- labern
laff From the web:
- what laffy taffy made of
- what's laffy taffy
- laffy taffy meaning
- what laffin mean
- laff meaning
- what laffed mean
- what laffy means
- affable means
baff
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)
- (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)
- To hit or strike, especially with something flat or soft.
- (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)
- (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)
- (colloquial, chiefly predicative) flabbergasted
Declension
Further reading
- “baff” in Duden online
baff From the web:
- what baffled means
- what baffles me
- what baffled military leaders
- what baffles you
- what baffling rant
- what baffling things make
- what baffle does mean
- what baffin boots are waterproof