cuffn.1
/kʌf/, U.S. /kəf/ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for hands > [noun] > glove
glovea1000
cuff1362
famble-cheat1567
fambler1610
turtle-dove1857
turtle1893
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for hands > [noun] > mitten
mitten1287
cuff1362
muffle1575
mitt1812
muffler1824
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. vii. 56 He caste on his cloþes, i-clouted and i-hole, His cokeres and his coffus, for colde of his nayles.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 106 Cuffe, glove, or meteyne, mitta (J. ciroteca).
1467 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1883) II. 262 Unum par chirotecarum vocatarum cuffes de velwet.
2. 1927 K. Nicholson Barker 149 On the cuff, a charged account.1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad 332 On the cuff, payment deferred.1945 B. Macdonald Egg & I (1947) xi. 135 Money was not important at all. All business was transacted on the cuff.1942 in Webber & Colvin Johnny Enzed in Middle East (1946) 8 A bit on the cuff, that sort of thing.1944 J. H. Fullarton Troop Target xi. 85 That's a bit on the cuff, Dig.
a. An ornamental part at the bottom of a sleeve, consisting of a fold of the sleeve itself turned back, a band of linen, lace, etc. sewed on, or the like; also, the corresponding part of a shirt-sleeve, or a separate band of linen or other material worn round the wrist so as to appear under the sleeve.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for arms > [noun] > covering for wrist > cuff
cuff1522
hand wrist1707
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering spec parts of body > arm > parts of > cuff
cuff1522
sleeve-hand?c1547
wristband1571
handcuff1591
hand wrist1707
1522 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 154 My velvett jacket, to make his childer patlettes and cuyffes.
1594 T. Nashe Vnfortunate Traveller sig. C4 Cleane shirts and cuffes.
1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. Kv He neuer weares Cuffes.
1684 J. Wilding in C. R. L. Fletcher Collectanea (1885) I. 259 For a pair of Kuffs.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 52 She laid her hand upon the cuff of my coat.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. ii. 20 Oliver, firmly grasping his [sc. Mr. Bumble's] gold-laced cuff.
1861 A. Wynter Our Social Bees 153 He turned up his cuffs like an expert chemical lecturer.
b. That part of a long glove or gauntlet which covers the wrist or part of the arm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for hands > [noun] > glove > types of > gauntlet > part of
cuff1860
1860 J. Hewitt Anc. Armour p. vii The sollerets and the cuffs of the gauntlets.
c. Colloquial phrases: off the cuff (as if from notes made on the shirt-cuff) originally U.S., extempore, on the spur of the moment, unrehearsed; also attributive (with hyphens); on the cuff, (a) originally U.S. on credit; (b) New Zealand beyond what is appropriate or conventional; excessive ( a bit on the cuff perhaps influenced by rhyming collocation a bit rough); to shoot one's cuffs: see shoot v.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > unintentional or unplanned character > [adverb] > in unplanned manner
suddenly1340
of unwarninga1400
on, upon, rarely of, in (a) suddenty1469
casuallya1549
extemporea1556
of (upon) this sudden1572
extemporally1577
at (the or a) volley1578
on (or o') the volley1578
extrumpery1582
unpremeditately1607
extemporary1610
extempory1623
extemporarily1667
impromptu1669
ad aperturam libri1679
unpremeditatedly1694
impulsively1768
extemporaneously1791
promiscuously1791
spontaneously1799
on (also upon) the spur of the moment (or occasion, etc.)1801
spontaneous1810
promiscuous1826
improvisedly1851
off-handedly1876
at the first jet1878
off the cuff1927
off the top of one's head1939
off the wall1966
society > trade and finance > management of money > solvency > [adverb] > on credit
to fristc1440
on (also upon, of) trust1509
on (also upon) credit1560
in, upon, on (the) score1568
on time1628
on or upon (the) tick1642
upon the tally1807
on the nod1882
on the slate1909
on the cuff1927
on the knocker1934
the mind > will > intention > unintentional or unplanned character > [adjective] > unplanned
suddena1300
unpremeditate1551
extemporal1570
unpurposed1570
unmeditated1576
extemporate1590
unpremeditated1597
unplotted1598
extemporary1610
extemporanean1621
extempory1623
impremeditate1647
unthought1648
unresolved1649
extemporate1651
incogitate1652
unprojected1653
indeliberate1655
extemporaneous1656
indeliberated1656
autoschediastical1662
casual1667
offhanda1668
undiscourseda1670
extemporany1673
unplanned1775
impromptu1789
on (also upon) the spur of the moment (or occasion, etc.)1801
autoschediastic1809
impromptuary1827
improvised1833
extemporized1856
spontaneous1856
unconsidered1876
undevised1894
lashed-up1920
ad-libbed1933
willy-nilly1933
off the cuff1948
1938 N.Y. Panorama (Federal Writers' Project, N.Y.) vi. 157 Double talk is created by mixing plausible-sounding gibberish into ordinary conversation, the speaker keeping a straight face or dead pan and enumerating casually or off the cuff.
1941 Time (Air Express ed.) 4 Aug. 1/1 Talking off the cuff to a group of civilian-defense volunteers he made them a little homily.
1944 Penguin New Writing 20 130 In that scene, shot off the cuff in a shockingly bad light, there leapt out of the screen..something of the real human guts and dignity.
1948 Economist 3 July 17/2 Mr. Truman's off-the-cuff comment.
1960 News Chron. 6 July 7/7 He was infuriated by Mr. Macmillan's refusal to give off-the-cuff answers.
d. The turn-up on a trouser leg. Chiefly U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > parts of > leg > turn-up
trouser cuff1896
cuff1911
turn-up1925
1911 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Spring–Summer 117 Trousers have belt loops, cuff bottoms and full width.
1917 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Fall–Winter 369 Trousers have five pockets, belt loops and finished with cuff.
1931 W. Faulkner Sanctuary vi. 52 Scraping at his trouser-cuffs.
1947 Book Nine (Caxton Press, N.Z.) 23 He tapped [the cigarette] ash into his trouser cuff.
1968 Observer 10 Mar. 25/5 A technique which guarantees there won't be glass fragments (identifiable by spectrography) in the cuffs of the thief's trousers.
1969 Catal. J.C. Penney Fall & Winter 561 Slacks... Rugged corduroy fabric. Belt loops and cuffs.
3. A fetter for the wrist, a handcuff n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the hands or arms
copsa700
manaclec1350
handlock1532
hand-bolt1563
handcuff1649
cuff1663
Darbies1673
glim-fenders1699
government securities1707
pinion1736
ruffles1776
bracelet1817
nippers1821
handicuff1825
shangy1839
snitchers1864
come-along1874
shackle-irons1876
mitten1880
wristlet1881
snaps1891
snips1891
stringers1893
twister1910
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. ii. 154 Promises that yoke The Conquerour, are quickly broke, Like Sampson's Cuffs.
1861 W. M. Thackeray On being found Out in Roundabout Papers (1876) 132 Mr. Bardolph..puts out his hands to the little steel cuffs, and walks away quite meekly.
Compounds
General attributive.
cuff box n.
ΚΠ
1883 A. Dobson Old World Idylls 17 The shoulder-knot that slept within her cuff-box.
cuff button n.
ΚΠ
1684 London Gaz. No. 1981/4 A Cuff Button with a Diamond of about ten grains.
cuff-edge n.
ΚΠ
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses i. i. [Telemachus] 6 Across the threadbare cuffedge he saw the sea hailed as a great sweet mother.
cuff-link n. (also cuff-links)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > cuff- or sleeve-link > [noun]
link1807
link-stud1881
sleeve-link1886
cuff-link1897
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 425 Solid gold Cuff Links, plain polished and raised ornamentation.
1915 ‘Bartimeus’ Tall Ship iv. 75 This liberal display of fine linen and flashing cuff-links.
1970 A. Cameron et al. Computers & Old Eng. Concordances 39 We had slugs made for print chains and finally made cuff links out of the slugs.
1971 N.Y. Times 21 Feb. 40 (advt.) Boutique cufflink collection in swivel lucite top cases.
cuff string n.
ΚΠ
1677 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 389 For cuff strings, 8d.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
cuffn.2
/kʌf/, U.S. /kəf/ 1.
a. A blow with the fist, or with the open hand; a buffet. Cf. fisticuff n.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [noun] > with the hand
handstroke1488
hand blow?1569
cuff1570
handy blow1572
kerry-merry-buff1598
cuffing1610
handicuff1611
hander1829
society > authority > punishment > corporal punishment > [noun] > beating > a blow
rapc1330
cuff1570
lamback1592
scourge1741
tinglera1804
swish1860
whomp1970
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Piiv/1 A Cuffe, colaphus.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. iii. 36 This mad-brain'd bridegroome tooke him such a cuffe, That downe fell Priest and booke. View more context for this quotation
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth iv. 127 She..gaue him a cuffe on the eare.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 433. ¶6 Their publick Debates were generally managed with Kicks and Cuffs.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 62/1 Many a cuff did the foreman..give him for absenting himself.
b. at cuffs: at blows, fighting; to go or fall to cuffs.
ΘΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [phrase]
at it1609
at cuffsa1616
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] > come to blows
to come to strokes1297
to fall in hand (also hands)1448
to fall to1577
come (or go), fall, get to blows1594
to go or fall to cuffsa1616
to fall, get, go to loggerheads1671
a1616 W. Shakespeare Hamlet (1623) ii. ii. 356 Vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in the Question.
1669 London Gaz. No. 386/4 The Contest grew so high, that they began to deside the dispute at Cuffs.
1683 Autobiog. Sir J. Bramston 140 Macedo..fell to cuffs with a Frenchman.
1711 J. Swift Lett. (1767) III. 175 He was at cuffs with a brother footman.
1720 Humourist 54 Mutatius is generally at Cuffs with himself.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 225 And there were kings who never went To cuffs for half-a-crown.
2. transferred. A blow or stroke of any kind.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > a stroke or blow
dintc897
swengOE
shutec1000
kill?c1225
swipc1275
stroke1297
dentc1325
touchc1325
knock1377
knalc1380
swapc1384
woundc1384
smitinga1398
lush?a1400
sowa1400
swaipa1400
wapc1400
smita1425
popc1425
rumbelowc1425
hitc1450
clope1481
rimmel1487
blow1488
dinga1500
quartera1500
ruska1500
tucka1500
recounterc1515
palta1522
nolpc1540
swoop1544
push1561
smot1566
veny1578
remnant1580
venue1591
cuff1610
poltc1610
dust1611
tank1686
devel1787
dunching1789
flack1823
swinge1823
looder1825
thrash1840
dolk1861
thresh1863
mace-blow1879
pulsation1891
nosebleeder1921
slosh1936
smackeroo1942
dab-
1610 R. Niccols Winter Nights Vision in Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) 619 (T.) The billows rude..Cuff after cuff, the earth's green banks did batter.
1778 F. Burney Let. 21 Aug. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 88 In getting out of the Coach, she had given her Cap some unlucky Cuff.
1872 J. S. Blackie Lays of Highlands 34 Granite battlements that..stiffly bear the cuffs and buffet of the strong-armed blast.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
cuffn.3
slang.
A contemptuous term for an old man; esp. a miserly old fellow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > old person > old man > [noun]
old maneOE
bevara1275
beauperec1300
vieillard1475
Nestor?c1510
old gentleman1526
haga1529
velyarda1529
old fellow?1555
old sire1557
granfer1564
vecchioc1570
ageman1571
grave-porer1582
grandsire1595
huddle-duddle1599
elder1600
pantaloon1602
cuffc1616
crone1630
old boya1637
codger?1738
dry-beard1749
eld1796
patriarch1819
oubaas1824
old chap1840
pap1844
pop1844
tad1877
old baas1882
senex1898
finger1904
AK1911
alte kacker1911
poppa stoppa1944
madala1960
Ntate1975
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [noun] > niggard or mean person > old or churlish
chuffc1440
huddle1578
nabal1586
curmudgeon1587
cormullion1596
hunks1602
nabalite1612
cuffc1616
chuff-cat1653
codger1778
hunkster1842
sore-head1848
c1616 R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) iv. 1255 Some rich cuffe.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew A pleasant Old Cuff, a frolicksom old Fellow.
1725 N. Bailey tr. Erasmus All Familiar Colloquies 526 Gil...I boarded with Antronius. Ja. What, with that rich old Cuff?
1760 G. Colman Polly Honeycombe i. iii. 23 Ten to one the old cuff may not stay with her.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
cuffn.4
Originally Scottish.
In cuff of the neck: ‘the fleshy part of the neck behind’ (Jamieson); (also) the coat collar.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [noun] > back of neck
napea1325
hattrelc1330
nolla1382
skull1382
polla1398
nape of the neck (also head)1440
noddle1547
niddick1558
nuke1562
nuque1578
nub1673
nod1695
cuff of the neck1740
nucha1768
scuff1787
scruff1790
scroop1850
kitchen1964
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > parts of > collar
cuff of the neck1740
storm collar1898
bolster collar1923
1740 in Inverness Cour. 29 Dec. 1883. 3/1 Mr. M.'s wife was drawn backwards by the cuff of the neck.
1823 J. Galt Ringan Gilhaize I. vii. 81 Her husband..seizing his Grace by the cuff of the neck, swung him away from her with..vehemence.
1873 E. Bulwer-Lytton Kenelm Chillingly II. iv. x. 309 I took him..by the cuff of the neck.
1876 S. Smiles Life Sc. Naturalist ii. 29 She took hold of her son by the cuff of the neck.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
Cuffn.5
U.S.
= Cuffee n. (in both senses).
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > black person > [noun]
AfriceOE
MoorOE
EthiopOE
blomana1225
Ethiopiana1325
blue mana1387
Moriana1387
black mana1398
blackamoor1525
black Morian1526
black boy1530
molen1538
Nigro1548
Nigrite1554
Negro1555
neger1568
nigger1577
blackfellow1598
Kaffir1607
black1614
thick-lipsa1616
Hubsheea1627
black African1633
blackface1704
sambo1704
Cuffee1713
Nigritian1738
fellow1753
Cuff1755
blacky1759
mungo1768
Quashie1774
darkie?1775
snowball1785
blue skin1788
Moriscan1794
sooterkin1821
nigc1832
tar-brush1835–40
Jim Crow1838
sooty1838
mokec1847
dinge1848
monkey1849
Siddi1849
dark1853
nigre1853
Negroid1860
kink1865
Sam1867
Rastus1882
schvartze1886
race man1896
possum1900
shine1908
jigaboo1909
smoke1913
golliwog1916
jazzbo1918
boogie1923
jig1924
melanoderm1924
spade1928
jit1931
Zulu1931
eight ball1932
Afro1942
nigra1944
spook1945
munt1948
Tom1956
boot1957
soul brother1957
nig-nog1959
member1962
pork chop1963
splib1964
blood1965
non-voter1966
moolinyan1967
Oreo1968
boogaloo1972
pongo1972
moolie1988
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Ursidae (bear) > [noun] > genus Ursus > ursus arctos > black bear
Cuff1811
cinnamon bear1823
Cuffee1824
cinnamon1855
muskwa1861
1755 J. Hempstead Diary 26 Sept. (1998) 639 An Indian freewoman wife to Mr Tilleys Negro Cuff Died.
1811 H. M. Brackenridge Jrnl. 15 Apr. in Views Louisiana (1814) 211 They chased a she bear into a hollow tree... The chopping was renewed; madam Cuff again appeared, and was saluted as before.
1855 W. Whitman Leaves of Grass 16 Growing among black folks as among white, Kanuck, Tuckahoe, Congressman, Cuff.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
cuffv.1
/kʌf/, U.S. /kəf/ 1. † c. To vanquish in fight, ‘beat’, ‘lick’. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To strike with the fist, or with the open hand; to buffet.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > corporal punishment > administer corporal punishment [verb (transitive)] > beat
threshOE
beatc1000
to lay on?c1225
chastise1362
rapa1400
dressc1405
lack?c1475
paya1500
currya1529
coil1530
cuff1530
baste1533
thwack1533
lick1535
firka1566
trounce1568
fight1570
course1585
bumfeage1589
feague1589
lamback1589
lambskin1589
tickle1592
thrash1593
lam1595
bumfeagle1598
comb1600
fer1600
linge1600
taw1600
tew1600
thrum1604
feeze1612
verberate1614
fly-flap1620
tabor1624
lambaste1637
feak1652
flog1676
to tan (a person's) hide1679
slipper1682
liquora1689
curry-comb1708
whack1721
rump1735
screenge1787
whale1790
lather1797
tat1819
tease1819
larrup1823
warm1824
haze1825
to put (a person) through a course of sprouts1839
flake1841
swish1856
hide1875
triangle1879
to give (a person or thing) gyp1887
soak1892
to loosen (a person's) hide1902
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > strike with specific thing [verb (transitive)] > with the hand
colaphizec1450
cuff1530
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 502/2 I cuffe one, I pomell hym about the heed, Je torche.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Piiv/1 To Cuffe, colaphizare.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. iv. 47 Priest, beware your Beard, I meane to tugge it, and to cuffe you soundly. View more context for this quotation
1677 T. D'Urfey Madam Fickle v. 54 Sirra, you shall be hufft and cufft, and flip'd and kick'd.
1781 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 453 I think a man deserves to be Cuffed for saying any lady will marry him.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton iv. 42 She ran out..and cuffed the boys' ears.
b. transferred. To beat, strike, buffet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)]
swingc725
slayc825
knockc1000
platOE
swengea1225
swipa1225
kill?c1225
girdc1275
hitc1275
befta1300
anhitc1300
frapa1330
lushc1330
reddec1330
takec1330
popc1390
swapa1400
jod?14..
quella1425
suffetc1440
smith1451
nolpc1540
bedunch1567
percuss1575
noba1586
affrap1590
cuff?1611
doda1661
buffa1796
pug1802
nob1811
scud1814
bunt1825
belt1838
duntle1850
punt1886
plunk1888
potch1892
to stick one on1910
clunk1943
zonk1950
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] > fight with fists
fist?a1300
cuff?1611
fistify1860
to go the knuckle1944
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xv. 575 Like a wave..that..down doth come And cuff a ship.
a1649 W. Drummond Poems (1656) 188 The angry Winds not aye Do cuff the roaring Deep.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud vi. i, in Maud & Other Poems 24 The budded peaks of the wood..Caught and cuff'd by the gale.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
a1657 G. Daniel Idyllia in Poems (1878) IV. i. 32 The fabled Monsters, wch Sr Bevis oft Vanquisht in fight, and our St George has Cufft.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1769 I. 325 Johnson: I'll take you five children from London, who shall cuff five Highland children.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > actions or bird defined by > [verb (intransitive)] > strike or buffet with wings
cuff1626
the world > animals > birds > actions or bird defined by > [verb (transitive)] > strike or buffet with wings
cuff1626
1626 G. Sandys tr. Ovid Metamorphosis xiii. 270 [They] Their opposites with beake and tallons rend; Cuffe with their wings.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 171 He hauked at all manner of game..till at length being well cuft and plumed, he was faine to yoke his lawlesse will under the grand charter.
1682 T. Otway Venice Preserv'd ii. 17 Those Lazy-Owls..Sit only watchful..To cuff down new fledg'd Virtues.
1687 J. Dryden Hind & Panther iii. 141 The Pigeons..with their Quills..cuff'd the tender Chickens from their food.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. ii. 179 They [two eagles] cuff, they tear, their cheeks and necks they rend.
3. absol. or intransitive. To deal or exchange blows; to fight, scuffle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike or deliver blows [verb (intransitive)]
slay971
smitelOE
flatc1330
flap1362
acoupc1380
frapa1400
girda1400
hit?a1400
knocka1400
swap?a1400
wapa1400
castc1400
strike1509
befta1522
to throw about one1590
cuff1596
to let down1640
dunch1805
yark1818
bunt1867
1596 [implied in: E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. iv. 29 Most cuffling [1611 cuffing] close, now chacing to and fro. (at cuffle v.)].
1675 C. Cotton Poet. Wks. (1765) 223 I'll cuff with thee for twenty Pound.
1675 C. Cotton Poet. Wks. (1765) 224 To prate, And cuff it out at Billingsgate.
1693 G. Stepney tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires viii. 160 While the Peers Cuff, to make the Rabble sport.
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 153 All those who choose..in a ring with him to cuff.
1886 J. K. Jerome Idle Thoughts (ed. 58) 128 Shrill-voiced women cuff, and curse, and nag.
4. transitive. To discuss, talk over (a tale, matter); also, to tell (a tale). dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speak, say, or utter [verb (transitive)] > discuss (a topic)
talka1387
rolla1413
descant?1532
to speak to ——1610
to speak unto ——1639
to go into ——1697
cuff1746
to speak on ——1819
tongue1841
1746 Exmoor Scolding (ed. 3) ii. 15 Oll vor..cuffing a Tale.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words I. 165 The personal appearance and behaviour of Miss H —— was cuffed over at the ball.
1867 W. F. Rock Jim an' Nell cx. 31 Let's cuff another tale.
1891 R. P. Chope Dial. Hartland, Devonshire 39 Cuff over, to talk over, discuss. ‘Let's ha' a pipe an' cuff it auver.’
Derivatives
ˈcuffing n. and adj. (In quot. 1610 figurative = contending, opposing.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > beating or repeated striking > [noun] > specific object a person
threshingOE
sousingc1580
rib-roast1595
basting1599
swingeing1603
cuffing1610
lamming1611
rib-roasting1613
mauling1621
pinking1637
drubbing1650
diverberation1651
verberation1661
trimming1675
rib1699
thrashing1720
dousing1721
fagging1746
bumping1751
dusting1799
clapperclawing1806
milling1806
hiding1809
punishment1811
doing1814
bethumping1831
mugging1846
jacketing1850
frailing1851
pasting1851
towelling1851
tanning1863
fum-fum1885
ribbing1894
paddywhack1898
tanking1905
beating-up1915
shellacking1931
sloshing1931
clobbering1948
twatting1963
duffing-up1967
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [noun] > with the hand
handstroke1488
hand blow?1569
cuff1570
handy blow1572
kerry-merry-buff1598
cuffing1610
handicuff1611
hander1829
1610 King James VI & I Speach Whitehall xxj. March 1609 sig. C4 There are diuers crosse and cuffing Statutes, and some so penned, as they may be taken in diuers, yea contrary sences.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) II. 32 In Cuffing, all Blows are aimed at the Face.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 257 I have but just escaped a good Cuffing.
1885 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. II. xxxv. 16 Give her a sound cuffing.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
cuffv.2
/kʌf/, U.S. /kəf/ rare.
transitive. To put cuffs on; to handcuff; see cuff n.1 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > bind, fetter, or shackle [verb (transitive)] > by the hands or arms
manaclea1350
pinion1556
handfast1587
handlock1587
pinno1596
immanacle1637
handcuff1649
cuff1693
hand-bolt1702
1693 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) III. 1 He was cuff'd and shackled with irons, and committed to Newgate.
1851 F. Palgrave Hist. Normandy & Eng. I. 555 Taken prisoner, cuffed and stripped.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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