Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To beat; strike; specifically, in the game of golf, to hit the ground with the club when striking at the ball.
  • To bark; yelp.
  • Worthless; useless.
  • noun A blow; a heavy thump.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • verb Scot. or Golf To strike; to beat; to make a baff.
  • noun Scot. A blow; a stroke; thud.
  • noun (Golf), Scot. or Golf a stroke in which the sole of the club hits the ground and drives the ball aloft.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive, archaic To bark; yelp.
  • noun Geordie blank
  • verb To hit or strike, especially with something flat or soft.
  • verb golf To strike the ground with the bottom of the club when taking a stroke.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English baffen ("to bark"). Cognate with Dutch baffen ("to bark"), Low German baffen ("to bark"), German baffen, bäfzen ("to bark"), Danish bjæffe ("to yelp"), Swedish bjäbba ("to yelp, bark"). Compare buff, yaff.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Probably from Old French baffe ("slap in the face") (French baffe), of imitative origin.

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Examples

Comments

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  • In golf, to strike the ground with a club in making a stroke (verb), or a stroke with a club that unduly lofts the ball (noun).

    April 4, 2008

  • Sounds like one of those Batman fight scene words.

    Baff!

    July 18, 2008

  • (v.t.): to strike a blow, to beat (Scots dialect, or golf).

    (n): a blow, stroke or thud, with special reference to golf, sensu reesetee's previous comment, below.

    The word may find its origin as an interjection imitating the sound of a shot or sharp blow.

    December 31, 2008

  • (v.t.): to strike a blow, to beat (Scots dialect, or golf).

    (n): a blow, stroke or thud, with special reference to golf, sensu reesetee's previous comment, below.

    The word may find its origin as an interjection imitating the sound of a shot or sharp blow.

    December 31, 2008