Posted by Mark Bossi (M.A. Bossi, Esquire) from Toronto Ontario Canada on April 30, 2021 at 17:50:45:
Despite nearly 22 years in the Army, I came up blank when somebody asked me this question:
What is the origin of the expression "NO DUFF" (i.e. used during an exercise to indicate non-exercise, or "real" activities, such as a real casualty vice an exercise or "pretend" cas)?
Somebody else suggested it is a version of "No guff" (i.e. "no bull" or "no kidding").
Another wondered whether it has something to do with golf (i.e. "duffers")?
So, I turn to the collective wisdom of the War Diary contributors for this exercise in etymology (no - that's not insects - it's the origin of words - No Duff!)
Dileas.