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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†GAFFAW, n., v. Also gaffa(a), gafaw. Earlier forms of Guffaw, q.v.

I. n. A loud laugh (Dwn. 1931 in North. Whig (27 Nov.), gafaw), a gale of laughter.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 157:
Syne circling wheels the flattering Gaffaw, As well they may, he gars their Beards wag a'.Sc. 1808 Jam. s.v. gaulf:
They gat up wi' a gaffaw, They all laughed loud.Peb. 1817 R. Brown Lintoun Green v. xxi.:
Bean, wi' her scout-mouth, gi'es gaffaws.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 22:
He nicker't sic a lang gaffaw.Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 51:
What games do ye practise to pass your meal hours, An' bear aff the palm wi' a hearty gaffa?

II. v. To laugh heartily or boisterously.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 211:
To bend wi' ye and spend wi' ye An Evening, and gaffaw.Mry. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 74:
What's a yon loud gaffawing din.Edb. 1818 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 155:
Muckle din an' loud gilraivitch was amang them, gaffawan an' lauchan.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxxviii.:
Some of the ne'er-do-weel young clerks of the town were seen gaffawing and haverelling with Jeanie.Dmf. 1836 J. Mayne Siller Gun 81:
Behold the concourse, here and there, Gaffawing till their sides are sair!

Hence 1. gaffawer, n., one who laughs loudly (Bnff.² 1927); 2. gaffawingly, adv., in a manner causing hearty laughter.1. Sc. 1841 Whistle-Binkie 25:
When e'en bit a younker, he'd cowr in a bunker Wi' 's beuk, daft gaffawers to mixna amang.Rnf. 1862 A. McGilvray Poems 26:
The simple turning of a straw, Would make them both gaffaers, Like fools this day.2. Sc. 1822 Blackwood's Mag. XII. 789:
Sydney Smith has turned the laugh against the Bishop most triumphantly and gaffawingly.