Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DUFF, v.2 Of birds: to mob an enemy, to drive off with screeching and feint attacks.Ags. 1952 People's Journal (29 March):
Swooping on the enemy, they [lapwings] never relax until he has been driven off. We used to describe the action as “duffing” the crow.
[Orig. uncertain. Phs. a specialised usage of Eng. slang duff, to dupe, cheat, the purpose of the lapwings' efforts to draw the predator away from the nests.]
