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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DUFF, n.¹ Also †dufe, dof, diffie. [dʌf, døf]

1. “The soft or spongy part of a loaf, turnip, new cheese, etc.” (Cld. 1825 Jam.², dufe; Ayr.⁴ 1928, diffie).

2. A soft spongy peat (Sh.¹¹ 1949, duff; Per. 1825 Jam.², dufe); decomposed vegetable matter such as moss, fallen leaves, etc.; when dried used as litter for cows (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dof; 1913–14 J. M. Hutcheson W.-L.). Also used in U.S. Cf. Dowf, I. 3.

5. (1). Often in comb. duff-(dof) mould, id. (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh.¹¹ 1949).Sc. 1844 W. H. Maxwell Sports and Adv. (1853) xvi.:
The outfield, or less productive parts, which are often mossy and seldom drained, has also long received each year a portion of earth or sea-weed dung, mixed with duff-mould.Sc. 1878 Pop. Sc. Monthly XII. 289 (N.E.D.):
This duff (composed of rotten spruce-trees, cones, needles, etc.) has the power of holding water almost equal to a sponge.Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Shet. 415:
The wet stratum is . . . covered with a layer of duffmould, or dry decomposed moss.Sh. 1897 Sh. News (28 Aug.):
I crep i' da byre ta see an' I coodna shül doon fae behint da kye an' pit a air o' duff i' der bissies.