duff

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

duff¹  (duf ), n. [Slang.]

1. Anatomy, Slang Terms the buttocks or rump:
   If you don't like the way things are, get off your duff and do something about it!

• expressive word, perh. akin to doup 1885–90

duff²  (duf ), n. 

1. Food a stiff flour pudding, boiled or steamed and often flavored with currants, citron, and spices.

• dialect, dialectal variant (Scots, north, northern England) of dough 1830–40

duff³  (duf ), v.t. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms to give a deliberately deceptive appearance to;
   misrepresent;
   fake.
2. British Terms, Sport (in golf ) to misplay (a golf ball), esp. to misjudge one's swing so that the club strikes the ground behind the ball before hitting it.
3. British Terms [Australian.]
   • to steal (cattle).
   • (formerly) to alter the brand on (stolen cattle).
4. to cheat someone.

• back formation from duffer (def. 3) 1830–40

duff⁴  (duf ), n. 

1. Ecology organic matter in various stages of decomposition on the floor of the forest.
2. Mining fine, dry coal, esp. anthracite.

• 1835–45; origin, originally Scots dialect, dialectal; perh. metaphorical use of duff², by association with Scots dowf decayed, rotten (see dowf), deaf (of soil) unproductive, springy to the tread

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

duff / dʌf/ noun

1. a thick flour pudding, often flavoured with currants, citron, etc, and boiled in a cloth bag
2. up the duff ⇒ pregnant

Etymology: 19th Century: Northern English variant of dough

duff / dʌf/ verb (transitive)

1. to change the appearance of or give a false appearance to (old or stolen goods); fake
2. to steal (cattle), altering the brand
3. Also: sclaff to bungle (a shot) by hitting the ground behind the ball

adjective

1. bad or useless, as by not working out or operating correctly; dud

Etymology: 19th Century: probably back formation from duffer