Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BAFF, n.3 Bedroom slipper. Gen. in pl. Also dim. baffie, id. (Ags., Fif. 1975; Bnff., Ags., Fif., Edb., Dmb., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s), and ppl.adj. baffied, wearing baffies, slippered (Sc. 1956 Sunday Post 22 April). [bɑf]Sc. 1997 Daily Record 9 May 27:
Yes, forget education, the economy and the NHS, if we'd only known about Cherie the whole thing would have been a shoe-in for the Tories and Norma Major's baffies might yet be under the Number 10 table.Sc. 2003 Scotland on Sunday 10 Aug :
The fireball of this show's title is deliberately ironic, as Kay's humour is more like a one-bar electric fire gently warming a pensioner's baffies than a comedy inferno. Sc. 2003 Daily Mail 29 Nov 20:
There were moments when they made the Red Arrows display team look like a squad of clumsy oafs, as students traced perfect figures of eight around and between each other, their feet flying across the floor like Darcey Bussell in feather baffies. Sc. 2004 Sunday Mail 9 May 3:
Shuffle into the kitchen in my baffies this morning to discover Sammy [the dog] has six eggs, two of Louis' school socks and a wooden spoon in her basket.m.Sc. 1991 Scotsman 16 Mar 2:
Quick as a flash she slips on her baffies skites up the close stairs to her neighbour's and chaps at the door, .... w.Ags. 1914 W.T. in T.S.D.C. I. 16:
Baffs. Old loose slippers.Fif. 1914 J.N. in T.S.D.C. I. 16:
Baffs. Coarse slippers used by women in the house.Slg. 1914 D.B.M. in T.S.D.C. I. 16:
Baffs. Large loose slippers, used also to describe animals' feet. “What baffs o' paws the cat has.”Edb. 2000:
When Ah wis wee we used to go on holiday tae Fife: Lumphinins. Everybody there cried their slippers their baffies. sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
baff, baffy, baffle a slipper or soft shoe
