To doff is to briefly remove or tip a hat as a friendly or respectful gesture. The word began as a contraction of "do off," just as "don" is from "do on." While hats no longer play quite the role in social conventions that they once did, doff still offers a glimpse into the rituals of everyday courtesy from an earlier era.
Example: The polite gentleman doffed his cap as his neighbor walked past him.
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