The word 'taffy' is a distinctly American term, emerging in the early 19th century. Its origin is believed to be a colloquial alteration of 'toffee', a similar British confection. The shift from 'toffee' to 'taffy' may reflect regional pronunciation patterns. The ultimate origin of 'toffee' is uncertain, but it is possibly related to 'tafia', a West Indian rum made from molasses, hinting at a shared connection to sugarcane products.

This word is a simplex. It is a loanword whose form does not readily break down into meaningful, reusable morphemes in modern English.