Posted by David Bamford on April 14, 2005 at 23:15:06 from 220.253.36.178 user David.
In Reply to: Re: DUFFER - in "Sands" posted by Jon on April 14, 2005 at 12:52:35:
Would not the verb have been derived, in its turn, from the adjective or noun of "duff", describing worthless or stolen goods being passed off as valuable or one's own possessions? Duffing of cattle here in Australia was [and possibly still is in some places] usually confined to the theft of 'Poddy' [unbranded] calves, which could not be identified at the saleyards.
David.