Silly, foolish, or lacking in good sense. Behaving in an absurd or ridiculous manner.
From Old English 'gedæfte' meaning 'mild, gentle,' from Proto-Germanic 'daft-.' The meaning shifted from 'gentle' to 'simple-minded' to 'foolish' over centuries, showing how perceived gentleness became associated with stupidity.
The evolution of 'daft' from meaning 'gentle' to 'foolish' reflects a harsh historical truth - in societies that valued aggression and cunning, kindness and gentleness were often seen as signs of weakness or mental deficiency.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.