[cf. OED tafia a rum-like spirituous liquor obtained from the lower grades of molasses, refuse brown sugar etc. (origin uncertain: given in 1722 as a native name in the West Indies..., but tafia  is also given in Malay dicts. as 'a spirit distilled from molasses'); W3 derives the word from Fr. "fr. West Indian Creole, alter. of ratafia" idem, which Larousse designates in turn as "mot créole"; given its presence in Malay, a more likely source is Port, tafiá aguardente de melaςo de aςúcar; aguardente de canna DEP]

n. Haitian rum: 1936 (Dupuch 120). <Gen.>