"Daffing" derives from the Scots verb "daff," meaning to make merry or act foolishly in a playful way. In Elliot's poem, the absence of "daffing" among the lasses underscores the total extinction of mirth. The term appears in Burns and older ballads to evoke carefree youth, often in rural settings. Its soft, almost childish sound suggests innocence and spontaneity. By noting that "nae daffing" occurs, the poem emphasises that even the smallest pleasures have been eradicated. In literary terms, "daffing" functions as a synecdoche for the entire pre-war social fabric—its loss is not a trivial detail but a sign of cultural death.

"Daffing" captures a specific kind of light-hearted, playful foolishness that is central to the social fabric of rural Scottish communities as depicted in poetry. The term derives from the Scots verb "daff," meaning to jest, play, or act silly, and it often appears in contexts of courtship, work, or festival. Its double 'f' and soft 'ing' ending give it a bouncy, frivolous quality that mirrors its meaning. In Burns's "The Tailor," "daffing down" becomes a lively refrain that underscores the comic, mischievous tone of the ballad. Elliot deploys "daffing" in a context of devastating loss: "Nae daffing, nae gabbing, but sighing and sabbing" shows that even the most innocent, spontaneous forms of play have been extinguished by grief. For students, it's valuable to note that "daffing" is not mere silliness but a vital social activity that bonds communities, eases labour, and provides a space for courtship and friendship. Its loss in Elliot's poem is therefore not a trivial detail but a sign of complete social collapse. The word also appears in compound forms like "daffing-time" and "daffing-lass," and its adjectival form "daff-like" can describe someone who is prone to foolery. In teaching, comparing "daffing" with its nearest English equivalents—"frolicking," "playfulness," "jesting"—reveals how Scots vocabulary often carries a warmth and specificity that more general terms lack.