Taffy
/ˈtæfi/noun
A chewy, often flavored candy that is stretched and pulled while cooling.
Did you know?The word is commonly linked to a clipped form of the Welsh name Dafydd, and by the 18th century English slang had turned it into a nickname for a Welsh person, showing how a sweet word can carry a sharp social history.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Welsh
Welsh
Dafydd
“A common Welsh form of David, a personal name”
17th–18th Century
English
taffy
“A nickname or slang term for a Welsh person”
19th Century
English
taffy
“A soft, chewy candy made by pulling sugar, butter, and flavorings”
Modern English
English
taffy
“A type of chewy confectionery”