Duff

Part of Speech

Noun, Adjective, Verb (informal)

Pronunciation

UK: /dʌf/ | US: /dʌf/

Definitions

• (Noun) A type of boiled or steamed pudding, traditionally made with flour, suet, and dried fruit.
• (Noun, informal) Decomposed organic matter on the forest floor.
• (Adjective, informal) Worthless, useless, or not working properly.
• (Verb, informal) To make a mess of something; to fail or ruin.

Usage Examples

• She made a delicious plum duff for dessert.
• The hiker slipped on the thick layer of duff in the forest.
• His old phone is completely duff and won’t turn on.
• He duffed his golf shot and missed the hole completely.

Etymology

Originates from Scottish dialect, related to "dough." The informal usage meaning "useless" emerged in British slang in the 19th century.

Synonyms

• Flop
• Failure
• Broken

Antonyms

• Functional
• Successful
• Effective

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /dʌf/
• American English: /dʌf/
• Australian English: /dʌf/

Historical Usage

The word "duff" has been used in English dialects for centuries to refer to pudding-like dishes. The slang meaning of "useless" or "broken" developed in British English in the 1800s.

Cultural Nuances

In British and Australian slang, "duff" is commonly used to describe something defective. In culinary terms, it refers to a traditional steamed pudding in British cuisine.

More Information

The term "duff" has multiple meanings across different contexts, including food, nature, and informal slang. It remains widely used in both British and Australian English, particularly in expressions like "up the duff" (meaning pregnant in UK slang).