Third person singular of 'duff,' meaning to mishit a golf ball or to push/nudge something.
The golf meaning likely originated in Scottish golf terminology in the late 19th century, possibly from 'duff' as an onomatopoeia or from the dull sound of a poor stroke. The pushing sense may derive from British slang. The word has become standard in golf commentary worldwide.
Golfers have such creative insults for bad shots—a 'duff' is one of the kindest ones! It's actually a shortened form from 'foozle,' and different eras of golf developed their own vocabulary for failure. Even professional golfers duff shots, which makes this one of the most democratic words in sports.
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