daffing

They have been hard at work most of the day, and they look upon the sociable evening hours as a time to be given up to what the Scotch call "daffing"; that is to say, a sort of nimble interchange of humorous or interesting gossip; a man who pursues a subject intently is apt to be thought a bore.

From a College Window Arthur Christopher Benson 1893

Shakspearian, who could step from the musings of Windsor and the beautiful heroine, all romance and ethereal splendour, to the lasses in their gay kirtles, and Hob and Raaf with their rustic "daffing," as true to the life as the Ayrshire clowns of Burns, and all the clumsy yet genial gambols of the village festival.

Royal Edinburgh Her Saints, Kings, Prophets and Poets George Reid 1862

You are a pleasant gentleman, and full of daffing, which may well become you, as you have enough (as I understand) to uphold your merry humour.

Redgauntlet 2008

It was just daffing, I tell ye: daffing, and nae mair: a piece of fun, like!

Lay Morals 2005

But I was thinking it was time to be putting an end to her daffing.

The McBrides A Romance of Arran John Sillars

When his lordship was in his study, our daffing was in Gaelic, for her ladyship, though a Morton, and only learning the language, loved to have it spoken about her.

John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn Neil Munro

Miss Mary, she would be daffing with him on his return, with a 'How's her leddyship to-day, Dugald?' and he would be in a pleasant vexation at this guessing of what he thought his secret.

Gilian The Dreamer His Fancy, His Love and Adventure Neil Munro

For long we had eaten nothing but the musty fare of the brig, and I shall never forget with what merry daffing we enjoyed the crisp oaten cake, the buttered scones, the marmalade, and the ham and eggs.

A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 William MacLeod Raine 1912

Indeed, to hear them daffing with each other one would have said they had been brought up together instead of being acquaintances of less than three weeks standing.

A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 William MacLeod Raine 1912

We three had wandered away together into an alcove, else, 'tis almost needless to say, our daffing had not been so free.

A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 William MacLeod Raine 1912