Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a Welshman; also as a direct term of address; also as adj.

a.1661		‘The Rota’ in Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 143: Taff Morgan, God her Worship save, / Doth shit among them very grave, / He’s no great States-man, but great K---.
1685		‘The Coy Cook-Maid’ in Euing Broadside Ballads No. 45: The welchman hearing the rest were gone, / Resolv’d that he would be with her anon, / With leek in his hand, on St. Taff’s day / He came.
1771		R. King New London Spy 97: ‘Well but, replied Taff, by St. David, little Lewy has the strongest voice’.
1780		‘Grubstreticus’ Parody on the Rosciad 54: Gold and apparel! what would Taff with these?
1801		C. Dibdin Yngr Song Smith 17: And Taff, look you, dances on Tavid’s coot day.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 249/1: His wife sold the concern to a wooden-legged Welshman named Hughes (commonly called ‘Taff’).
1882		Bristol Magpie 27 July 7/2: Poking fun at ‘Taff’ / In ‘Welsh Wales’.
1914		‘Bartimeus’ ‘A One-Gun Salute’ in Naval Occasions 193: ‘Don’t you take on, Taff,’ said another, pushing over his pannikin of rum.
1945		J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious (1974) 172: I just know for dead-sure, Taff, I can’t go.
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: Good old Taff! Show us your leek! Get him!
1962		H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: Hey, Taff, will you do us a favour?
1977		G. Melly Rum, Bum and Concertina (1978) 130: A Welshman called, without, I’ll agree, any startling originality, Taff.
1978		A. Burgess 1985 (1980) 174: Him, Charlie. What they call an educated taff.
1996		A. Close Official and Doubtful 371: Tell him to go fuck himself and watch the factory go to the taffs?
2000		(con. 1983) M. Amis Experience 178: You’re giving up a year’s work because a few old wrecks at the Garrick, who probably think you’re [...] a Taff [That Uncertain Feeling], may suspect.
2003		N. Griffiths Stump 78: An youse can fuck off n all, yeh pairer Taff cunts.