[Ads-l] DUFF

[GUY LETOURNEAU Owner]

In science fiction fandom of the 60s and 70s, "DUFF" was the 'Down Under Fan Fund,' a kind of slush fund or kitty that SF clubs or convention organizers could pull from to subsidize the admission cost of a financially inchoate friend of the community.

It was also used as a verb.

- GLL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Zimmer" <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2015 8:02:39 AM
Subject: DUFF

---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Poster:       Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      DUFF
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There's a new teen comedy out called "The Duff." In the movie it's
explained that "DUFF" is an acronym for "Designated Ugly Fat Friend."
The movie is based on a 2010 YA novel of the same name by Kody
Keplinger. Urban Dictionary has had an entry for "DUFF" since 2003:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=duff&defid=25336

--bgz

-- 
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org