doff [ dof ] (past doffed, past participle doffed, present participle doff·ing, 3rd person present singular doffs)

transitive verb

1. take off or lift hat: to take off a hat, or lift and tilt it as a greeting or a mark of respect


2. take off clothing: to take off a coat or another piece of clothing


[14th century. Contraction of archaic do off “to take off.”]


dof·fer noun

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This is one of those words where I'm probably better off with my vague knowledge of what it meant, rather that the "official" definition. I'm confused now.

Given definition (1) it seems acceptable to write: He doffed. I keep wanting to add the phrase his hat, but wouldn't that be redundant?

Maybe not, given definition (2). How sure do we need to be that it is his hat he is doffing and not other articles of clothing? Wouldn't the context distinguish between the two meanings without having to add the redundant phrase?

Then perhaps we could be perverse and have him doff a different article of clothing out of respect and make definition (1) a mis-definition.

Tee hee!

Words! Gotta luv 'em!

Here's a word of advice: Don't be a doffer(2) if it's too cold!