Daft

Daft
This is an English surname which is mostly associated with the Midland counties of the country. It derives from the Olde English word of the pre 7th century "gedaeft" meaning meek or mild, and as such it was a pre Medieval personal name of some popularity. In the Middle Ages in the form of "daffte" it became a surname which in most cases originated from the personal name but may also have been a nickname for a gentle person or given the robust humour of the Chuacerian period, the complete reverse! An interesting and well known example of reversal from the same time in history is that of Little John, the largest man in the famous band of outlaws from Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, and lead by Robin Hood. Curiously Daft is also a surname from Nottinghamshire and from much the same period with John Daft appearing in the records of the borough of Nottingham in the year 1230, whilst Robert Daft is recorded in the tax registers known as the Feet of Fines, also for Nottingham, in 1242. The modern meaning of a simpleton or clown is according to the famous Collins English Dictionary, 19th century. This is at least five centuries too late to have any bearing on the origin of the surname.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Daft — is an Old English derived word for silly, stupid, or mad, depending on context. Daft may also refer to: Daft (album), a 1986 album by Art of Noise Daft Punk, a French music duo D.A.F.T.: A Story About Dogs, Androids, Firemen and Tomatoes, a… …   Wikipedia

  • daft — [ dæft ] adjective MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL 1. ) silly and not sensible or reasonable: I think it s a daft idea. don t be daft: Don t be daft of course I won t forget you. be daft enough to do something: Who would be daft enough to pay so much for …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • daft´ly — daft «daft, dahft», adjective. 1. without sense or reason; silly; foolish; stupid: »Go out in this rain? You must be daft. 2. crazy; insane; mad: »to go daft …   Useful english dictionary

  • daft — [da:ft US dæft] adj especially BrE [: Old English; Origin: gedAfte gentle ] 1.) silly ▪ a daft idea ▪ Me, jealous? Don t be daft (=that is a silly idea) . ▪ She s as daft as a brush (=extremely silly) . 2.) be daft about sth to be extremely… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Daft — (d[.a]ft), a. [OE. daft, deft, deft, stupid; prob. the same word as E. deft. See {Deft}.] 1. Stupid; foolish; idiotic; also, delirious; insane; as, he has gone daft. [1913 Webster] Let us think no more of this daft business Sir W. Scott. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • daft — daft; daft·berry; daft·ly; daft·ness; …   English syllables

  • daft — /daft / (say dahft) adjective 1. Colloquial lacking in commonsense; idiotic: not as daft as I look! 2. Colloquial stupid; foolish: a daft idea. 3. Chiefly British lacking mental acuity; mentally deficient. {Middle English daffte, Old English… …  

  • daft — [daft] adj. [ME dafte < OE (ge)dæfte, mild, gentle (for the sense development, see CRETIN, SILLY) < IE base * dhabh , to fit > L faber, a joiner, artisan] 1. silly; foolish 2. insane; crazy 3. Scot. merry or frolicsome in a giddy way… …   English World dictionary

  • daft — index lunatic Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • daft — (adj.) O.E. gedæfte gentle, becoming, from P.Gmc. *gadaftjaz (Cf. O.E. daeftan to put in order, arrange, gedafen suitable; Goth. gadaban to be fit ), from PIE *dhabh to fit together. Sense progression from mild (c.1200) to dull (c.1300) to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • daft — [adj] stupid; crazy absurd, asinine, bedlamite, bonkers, cracked*, crackers*, daffy*, demented, deranged, dopey*, flaky*, foolish, fried*, giddy, half baked*, idiotic, inane, insane, in the ozone*, lunatic, mad, mental*, nuts, nutty*, off the… …   New thesaurus

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