Daffy
/ˈdæfi/noun
Silly, eccentric, or slightly crazy.
Did you know?“Daffy” likely grew out of an older sense of being weak or foolish, and by the 17th century it was already being used to mean mentally unsteady—proof that language has been calling people “off” for centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
daff
“To put off, dismiss, or make foolish; also associated with being simple or witless in later use.”
16th Century
English
daffy
“Foolish, silly, or weak-minded.”
17th Century
English
daffy
“Crazy, cracked, or mentally unbalanced.”
Modern English
English
daffy
“Silly, eccentric, or slightly crazy.”