duffer

duffer
/duf"euhr/, n.
1. Informal.
a. a plodding, clumsy, incompetent person.
b. a person inept or inexperienced at a specific sport, as golf.
2. Northern and North Midland U.S. an old man, esp. a dull or indecisive one.
3. Slang.
a. anything inferior, counterfeit, or useless.
b. a peddler, esp. one who sells cheap, flashy goods.
[1835-45; perh. Scots dial. duffar, dowfart dull, stupid person, deriv. of DOWF; def. 3 perh. re-formation with DUFF3 + -ER1]

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  • Duffer — Duf fer, n. 1. A peddler or hawker, especially of cheap, flashy articles, as sham jewelry; hence, a sham or cheat. [Slang, Eng.] Halliwell. [1913 Webster] 2. A stupid, awkward, inefficient person.[Slang] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • duffer — inept person; old man, especially bad golfer, 1842, perhaps from Scot. duffar dull or stupid person, from dowf stupid, lit. deaf, from O.N. daufr, with pejorative suffix art. Or perhaps from 18c. thieves slang duff (v.) to dress or manipulate an… …   Etymology dictionary

  • duffer — ► NOUN informal ▪ an incompetent or stupid person. ORIGIN from Scots dowfart «stupid person» …   English terms dictionary

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