verb

doff

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Doff (verb) means to take off something you are wearing or carrying, such as clothing or armour.

verb

To take off something you are wearing or carrying, such as clothing or armour.

"She had doffed the shirt and Bermuda-shorts which she had been wearing and was now dressed for her journey home." — Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1960)

To lift or take off your hat as a greeting or a mark of respect.

To take off your clothes.

To throw off or get rid of something.

"Doff that stupid idea: it will never work."

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

Carries the PIE word *h₂epó. The verb comes from Late Middle English doffen ("to take off (clothing); to remove (headwear) as a sign of respect; to remove (grease) by skimming"), a contraction of Middle English do off, don off, from Old English dōn of, from dōn ("to do; to put; to take off, remove") plus of ("from; off"). Dōn in turn derives from Proto-West Germanic *dōn ("to do; to place, put"), from Proto-Germanic *dōną ("to do; to make; to place, put"), and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- ("to do; to place, put"). By surface analysis it is do plus off. Compare don (by surface analysis, do + on), dout (do + out), and dup (do + up). The noun comes from the verb.

Antonyms

don

Related words

professor wear don Gordon invest Donald apparel robe

Rhymes for doff

off Hoff goff scoff

See all rhymes for doff →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of doff?

"doff" (verb) means to take off something you are wearing or carrying, such as clothing or armour.

What is the opposite of doff?

The opposite of "doff" is don.

What are the different meanings of doff?

"doff" has 3 main meanings: 1. To take off something you are wearing or carrying, such as clothing or armour; 2. To lift or take off your hat as a greeting or a mark of respect; 3. To take off your clothes.

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