Sc. [Possibly a. OF. baffe a blow with the back of the hand; but perh. simply imitative of the sound.] A blow with anything flat or soft, e.g., the palm of the hand, a soft ball, etc.
a. 1800. in R. Jamieson’s Pop. Ballads, II. 382 (Jam.). His back they loundert … baff for baff.
1814. Scott, Wav., lxxi. For fear some dare-the-de’il should tak a baff at them.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 11. A cannon-ball would but play baff on you.
