Daft as a brush (orig. posted May 2002)

Posted by (Various posters) on August 10, 2002

Posted by Bruce Kahl on May 22, 2002

In Reply to: daft as a a brush posted by Alexandra Waugh on May 21, 2002

: Could it possibly be a corruption of 'deft'i.e. skilled and quick?

Looks like it:

One entry found for daft.

Main Entry: daft
Pronunciation: 'daft also 'däft
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English dafte gentle, stupid; akin to Old English gedæfte mild, gentle, Middle English defte deft, Old Church Slavonic podobati to be fitting
Date: 14th century

Main Entry: deft
Pronunciation: 'deft
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English defte gentle -- more at DAFT
Date: 15th century
: characterized by facility and skill
synonym see DEXTEROUS
- deft·ly adverb
- deft·ness /'def(t)-n&s/ noun