The terms coif and Quaff are spelt the same way, yet they have various definitions. A few semantic and grammatical distinctions exist between “coif” and “quaff.” As a result, this essay aims to distinguish between Coif and Quaff.
Key Takeaways
- A coif is a close-fitting cap or hair accessory, while a quaff refers to drinking a beverage heartily or in large gulps.
- Coifs are worn for fashion or religious purposes, whereas quaffing is associated with enjoying a beverage.
- Coif is a noun referring to an object or hairstyle, while quaff is a verb describing the action of drinking.
Coif vs Quaff
The difference between Coif and Quaff is that they have diverse meanings and are derived from separate languages, and Quaff is mostly a verb, whereas Coif is primarily a noun.
Even yet, since they are homophones, individuals routinely make them up if they’ve just heard the phrase pronounced.
A coif is a medieval cowl worn out over the face and head by male soldiers in the fourteenth century as an element of heavy armour. The Coif had been a padded fabric knotted underneath the chin as well as filled with woollen or horsehair.
Quaffing implies “to drink vigorously” or “in huge gulps.” It’s a word that means “to drink with gusto” or “to deplete (a cup) at one stroke.” Quaff can alternatively be defined as “a vigorous gulp of liquid” or “a drink.
The term “quaff” goes back to The old Norse term kafja, meaning “to gulp down.” It was first used during the thirteenth century and is now in use ever since.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Coif | Quaff |
|---|---|---|
| Parts of Speech | As stated above, coif is primarily used as a noun is different aspects. | On the other hand, Quaff is predominantly is used as a verb. |
| Meaning | A coif is a phrase that relates to a headwear, particularly one that covers the neck as well as shoulders. It has been worn by both men and ladies throughout history. | Quaffing is a verb that implies to consume with pleasure. This also implies to consume a huge quantity of something quickly. |
| Origin | The origin of coif is said to be originated from the 11th century when the old monks used to wear it to cover themselves. | Whereas, in case of Quaff, it has been difficult to trace down the origin of this terminology. But the closest trace of this term comes from Germany. |
| Significant Application | One significant application of Coif was for distinguishing judges. Coifs became popular headdresses for mediaeval judges, particularly serjeants-at-law. | The meaning of the word Quaff is to enthusiastically drink, referring to an alcoholic drink, whether that means to enjoy drinking very much or to drink large amounts, or to drink a lot at a time. |
| Borrowed From | The term coif is borrowed from the French term and is also spelled as coiffe. | Whereas, Quaff is the term that is derived from Germanic word with uncertain origins. |
What is Coif?
A coif is a medieval cowl worn out over the face and head by male soldiers in the fourteenth century as an element of heavy armour. The Coif had been a padded fabric knotted underneath the chin as well as filled with woollen or horsehair.
A coif was worn beneath the big helm to defend the neck against assaults from all sides. Arrows and other weaponry could not get lodged in the hair and pierce the neck because of the Coif.
This also avoided additional injuries such as low blows and being pushed off the horse.
According to some researchers, it is inherited out from cowls used by medieval priests in the eleventh century. These hoods were designed to keep them warm and dry while traversing great miles between monasteries on foot.
The word ‘ Coif,’ also called ‘coiffe,’ comes from French. It consists of a variety of items that conceal the head. The very first refers to a hairdo.
What is Quaff?
Quaffing implies “to drink vigorously” or “in huge gulps.” It’s a word that means “to drink with gusto” or “to deplete (a cup) at one stroke.” Quaff can alternatively be defined as “a vigorous gulp of liquid” or “a drink.
The term “quaff” goes back to The old Norse term kafja, meaning “to gulp down.” It was first used during the thirteenth century and is now in use ever since.
The term “quaff” could go back to the time in the 1400s before it was even used during Geoffrey Chaucer’s work “The Tale of Beryn.” Subsequently, during William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet (1603).
By that time, the use of Quaff had grown common.
Quaffing implies consuming anything vigorously or all at once. Quaff can also apply to a beverage that is drunk in large quantities or all in one go, commonly an alcoholic beverage. Quaffs quaffed, and quaffing all are synonyms.
Main Differences Between Coif and Quaff
- As stated above, Coif is primarily used as a noun in different aspects. On the other hand, Quaff is predominantly used as a verb.
- A coif is a phrase that relates to headwear, particularly one that covers the neck as well as shoulders. It has been worn by both men and ladies throughout history. Quaffing is a verb that implies consuming with pleasure. This also implies consuming a huge quantity of something quickly.
- The origin of Coif is said to be originated in the 11th century when the old monks used to wear it to cover themselves. Whereas, in the case of Quaff, it has been difficult to trace the origin of this terminology. But the closest trace of this term comes from Germany.
- One significant application of Coif was for distinguishing judges. Coifs became popular headdresses for medieval judges, particularly serjeants-at-law. The meaning of the word Quaff is to enthusiastically drink, referring to an alcoholic drink, whether that means to enjoy drinking very much, to drink large amounts, or to drink a lot at a time.
- The term coif is borrowed from the French term and is also spelt as coiffe. Whereas, Quaff is the term that is derived from a Germanic word with uncertain origins.
- https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=N8342Ioe-04C&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Difference+Between+Coif+and+Quaff+(With+Table)&ots=GFo-oDBEwO&sig=-RAzL4K9lOPDyhsM74KskUMmAu8#v=onepage&q&f=false
- https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VYaADY-FuT0C&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Difference+Between+Coif+and+Quaff+(With+Table)&ots=EY9x-1Wz98&sig=oHIgWHcHpNttI-LmSUDaL8wqLz4#v=onepage&q&f=false
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
This article provides a comprehensive explanation of the differences between the terms. The historical significance of the words is enlightening.
The historical context of coif, particularly its use in medieval armor, is an interesting focal point in this discussion.
The breakdown of the specific applications and origins of the terms is well-documented and illuminating.
This is an engaging exploration of the semantic and grammatical nuances between coif and quaff. The linguistic diversity of the etymologies is noteworthy.
The breakdown on the etymology of the words and their origins is quite revealing. The medieval context of ‘coif’ is fascinating.
I appreciate the linguistic analysis of ‘quaff,’ including its historical usage in works by Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare.
This article delves into a thorough examination of the main differences between coif and quaff, providing a comprehensive linguistic analysis.
The exploration of the origins and linguistic comparisons between coif and quaff contributes to a nuanced understanding of these terms.