# doff

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɒf/ · frequency rank #83,192

## Definitions
1. To remove or take off (something worn on the body such as armour or clothing, or something carried).
2. To remove or take off (something worn on the body such as armour or clothing, or something carried).
3. To undress (oneself); to divest, to strip.
4. To cast aside or get rid of (something), to throw off.
5. To remove (a bobbin or spindle which is full of spun yarn) from a spinning frame for replacement with an empty one.
6. To remove (small pieces of cotton or other plant fibre, etc.) from a carding cylinder.
7. To put off or turn away (someone) with an excuse, etc.
8. To remove or tip a hat or other headwear in greeting or salutation, or as a mark of respect.
9. Followed by with: to remove or take off something worn on the body, or something carried.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *h₂epó
The verb is derived from Late Middle English doffen (“to take off (clothing); to remove (headwear) as a sign of respect; to remove (grease) by skimming”), a contraction of Middle English do off, don off, from Old English dōn of, from dōn (“to do; to put; to take off, remove”) + of (“from; off”). Dōn is derived from Proto-West Germanic *dōn (“to do; to place, put”), from Proto-Germanic *dōną (“to do; to make; to place, put”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to do; to place, put”). By surface analysis, do + off. Compare don (by surface analysis, do + on), dout (do + out), dup (do + up).
The noun is derived from the verb.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/doff