† buffn.1
Obsolete.
1. A blow, stroke, buffet. Buff and counterbuff n. seem to have been technical terms in fencing or pugilism.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > a stroke or blow > specific on a person
buffet?c1225
flatc1320
boxc1330
rapc1330
plaguea1382
puncha1450
buffc1475
jowl?1516
beff1768
funk1790
fib1814
cob1828
one1876
biff1889
clump1889
one in the eye1891
conk1898
fourpenny one1936
a sock in the eye1972
kennedy-
c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 63 Quo durst abide him a buffe [perh. read busse].
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 291/4 He gaf to her in Japyng a buffe.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. B5 The Sarazin sore daunted with the buffe.
1641 J. Milton Of Prelatical Episc. 23 Where they give the Romanist one buffe, they receive two counterbuffs.
2. To this perhaps belongs the phrase to stand buff v. to stand firm, not to flinch; to endure.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > moral courage > stoicism > to be stiff-upper-lipped [verb]
to be of (good) comfortc1320
to be of good cheera1413
to stand buff1701
to keep (carry, have) a stiff upper lip1798
to die game1886
stiff-upper-lip1977
a1680 S. Butler Hudibras's Epit. (R.) For the good old cause stood buff 'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff.
1697 J. Vanbrugh Provok'd Wife v. 71 The Marriage-Knot..may stand Buff a long long time.
1701 J. Collier tr. M. Aurelius Medit. (1726) 219 To stand buff against danger and death.
1733 H. Fielding Miser (London ed.) ii. ii. 19 I must even stand buff, and out-face him.
1827 W. Scott Jrnl. 4 Sept. (1941) 97 If he does [turn on me]..it is best to stand buff to him.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
buffn.2
/bʌf/, U.S. /bəf/ I. The animal.† 1. † b. Used to render Pliny's tarandus, now usually identified with the reindeer. Obsolete.
a. A buffalo, or other large species of wild ox. Cf. buff n.6 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > subfamily Bovinae (bovine) > [noun] > wild
oxOE
buglea1382
oryxa1382
buff1552
reem1607
bran1688
bush cow1847
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Buffe, bugle, or wylde oxe, bubalus.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 137 Bubale called of the common people Buffes, of Plinie Bisonte.
1583 G. Peckham True Rep. Newfound Landes v. sig. E.iv He and his company did finde in one Cottage aboue 240. Hides..and with this agreeth Dauid Ingram, and discribeth that beast at large, supposing it to be a certaine kinde of Buffe.
1583 D. Ingram in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) iii. 560 Buffes, which are beasts as big as two Oxen.
1621 H. Ainsworth Annot. Five Bks. Moses & Bk. Psalmes Deut. xiv. 5 The Buffe, Buffel, or Wilde-oxe.
a1674 J. Milton Brief Hist. Moscovia (1682) i. 6 Huge and desert Woods of Firre, abounding with Black Wolves, Bears, Buffs.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Buff, Buffle or Buffalo, a wild Beast.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > types of deer > [noun] > genus Rangifer (reindeer)
reindeerc1440
rein1555
tarand1572
buff1607
caribou1609
maccarib1672
bucka1674
woodland caribou1854
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 55 A Buffe is called in Greeke Tarandos... When he is hunted or feared, he chaugeth [read changeth] his hew into whatsoeuer thing he seeth.
1617 J. Minsheu Ἡγεμὼν είς τὰς γλῶσσας: Ductor in Linguas 56 A Buffe, so called because it has some likeness with the Buffle..L. Tarandus.
II. Buff-skin, leather, and its uses.† 2.
a. (More fully buff-leather): properly, leather made of buffalo hide; but usually applied to a very stout kind of leather made of ox-hide, dressed with oil, and having a characteristic fuzzy surface, and a dull whitish-yellow colour.A proprietary name in the United Kingdom.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > [noun] > buffalo-skin
buff-leather1574
buffalo-hide1703
buffalo-skin1732
parfleche1823
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > leather > [noun] > leather from ox, cow, or buffalo
neat's leather?a1425
buff-leather1574
buff-hide1589
buff-skin1589
cowhide1728
robe1761
Grecian leather1852
crop1858
crop-leather1858
steerhide1921
1574 J. Baret Aluearie B 1343 Couerings of saddels made of buffe leather.
1581 Orig. Jrnls. House of Commons 1 Mar. 2 f. 135v The bill touchyng the making of Spanyshe lether and Buffe within this Realm.
1613 Voy. Guiana in Harl. Misc. (1809) III. 190 The hide [of the Sea-cow]..will make good buff.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 43. ⁋10 To have Flea'd the Pict, and made Buff of his Skin.
1756 Gentleman's Mag. 26 61 Losh, or buff-leather, drest in oil, fit for the use of the army.
b. Military attire (for which buff was formerly much used); a military coat made of buff; = buff coat n. Also the dress of sergeants and catch-poles. Hence, to wear buff, be in buff.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > types of > made of specific material
skin coat1533
buff1598
buff coat1633
hair-camlet1676
duffel1852
Guernsey coat1859
rabbit1877
polo coat1880
lammy coat1916
sheepskin1917
teddy bear1925
ranch mink1934
Persian1957
Persian lamb1959
leathers1962
leopard1973
Afghan1974
sable1975
squirrel1978
society > armed hostility > military service > serve as a soldier [verb (intransitive)]
to bear armsc1325
to take armsa1425
serve1430
war1535
to trail a pikec1550
sold1564
to follow the drum1575
to see and serve1590
soldierize1593
militate1625
soldier1647
be in buff1701
to go (a-)soldiering1756
1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. iv. iv. 30 If Martius in boystrous Buffes be drest.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. ii. 45 But is in a suite of buffe which rested him. View more context for this quotation
1640 J. Shirley Coronation iii. sig. E3 To sell your glorious buffes to buy fine pumps.
1647 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal Sixteen Satyrs vi. 419 With men of Buffe and Feather [L. cumque paludatis Ducibus].
1701 J. Collier tr. A. Dacier Life Marcus Aurelius Antoninus p. cxi, in tr. Marcus Aurelius Conversat. with Himself Never suffer'd to wear Buff in Italy.
1823 W. Scott Peveril I. i. 27 Churchmen, Presbyterians, and all, are in buff and bandelier for King Charles.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock I. i. 13 Strangled on the pulpit stairs by this man of buff and Belial.
3. colloquial. The bare skin. in the buff: naked.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > nakedness or state of being unclothed > [noun] > bare skin
barec1300
buff1654
birthday clothes1732
birthday gear1734
birthday suit1734
birthday attire1803
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > nakedness or state of being unclothed > [adverb]
naked as a worm?a1366
nakedlyc1425
to the skin?1518
in one's (pure) naturals1579
in puris naturalibus1581
unclothedlya1626
puris naturalibus1626
with nothing on1678
uncoveredly1683
in the buff1803
Adamically1860
in the (also one's) altogether1894
in the raw1941
in the nuddy1953
1602 T. Dekker Satiro-mastix sig. F3 Doe not scorne mee because I goe in Stag, in Buffe, heer's veluet too.]
1654 Revenge for Honour i. i. 6 For accoutrements you wear the buff.
1749 ‘H. Fitzcotton’ New & Accurate Transl. of 1st Bk. Homer's Iliad 32 If you perplex me with your stuff—All that are here shan't save your buff.
1803 J. Bristed Ανθρωπλανομενος II. 606 He had no change [of linen], consequently he slept in buff.
1872 C. King Mountaineering in Sierra Nevada viii. 176 Stripping ourselves to the buff, we hung up our steaming clothes.
1956 V. Jenkins Lions Rampant i. 17 They went swimming, sunbathed, did their training stripped to the buff.
1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai ix. 153 The wizened fellow..observed us undressing down to the buff.
1969 Rolling Stone 28 June 4/1 The girls call themselves the Groupies and claim they recorded their song in the buff.
4. = buff-stick n. at Compounds 2 or buff-wheel: see Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > polishing > [noun] > implement for polishing > implements for polishing metal
Flanders tilea1399
white brick1468
Flanders brick1651
scratch-brush1797
buff1831
Bath-brick1837
scratch card1839
buffer1854
rag wheel1869
bob1879
buff-stick1881
scratch-knot1905
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > polishing > [noun] > implement for polishing > machine for polishing metal
buff1831
buffing-apparatus1835
scratch-brush lathe1856
1831 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal I. 292 A wheel similar to the glazer..covered with..buff leather, whence its name. These buffs and glazers, etc.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 37 Soldier's old belts make very good buffs... Sticks coated with emery paper are also called buffs.
III. The colour, and things so coloured. [buff adj.1 used as buff n.2]
5.
a. Buff colour; a dull light yellow. blue and buff were formerly the colours of the Whig party.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > brownish yellow
fallowa1425
ochre1440
Minozin1680
fulvidness1685
satinwood1773
buff1788
nankeen1794
mountain yellow1801
chamois1872
mustard1884
oliveness1890
Sahara1923
1788 C. Dibdin Musical Tour xcvi. 394 The administration is a colour in grain, and will stand when buff and blue shall have entirely flown off.
1796 J. G. Stedman Narr. Exped. Surinam II. xxiv. 213 [The water melon's] colour is..partly a very pale buff.
a1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan Ded. in Wks. (1833) XV. 108 I still retain my ‘buff and blue’.
1884 Harper's Mag. Feb. 349/2 A gradation of buffs and reds.
1888 N.E.D. at Buff Mod. The Edinburgh Review—the venerable blue-and-buff.
b. In full Buff Cochin, a variety of the Cochin fowl, in which both cock and hen are of a uniform buff colour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > genus Gallus (domestic fowl) > [noun] > types of > Cochin
Cochin1853
Cochin-China1853
buff1855
1855 Poultry Chron. 3 173 Our old friends, the Cochins, mustered pretty strong,..the buffs..were very good.
1873 L. Wright Illustr. Bk. Poultry 210 We have several shades in the Buff Cochin cock.
1873 L. Wright Illustr. Bk. Poultry 213 The earliest and greatest breeders of Buff Cochins.
1899 Norris-Elye Brahmas & Cochins 61 Evenness of colour is perhaps the greatest difficulty in breeding..buff Cochins.
6.
a. the Buffs: a popular name given, from the former colour of their facings (see buff adj.1), to the old 3rd regiment of the line in the British army (now the East Kent Regiment; royal assent was given to the restoration of buff facings to the East Kent Regiment on 19 August 1890). Similarly the old 78th regiment (now 2nd Battalion of Seaforth Highlanders) are called the Rossshire Buffs.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > unit of army > named companies, regiments, etc. > [noun] > British
Ulsters1649
Scots Guardsa1675
fusilier1680
guards1682
Scots Dragoons1689
Scots Fusiliers1689
Inniskilling1715
Scots Greys1728
blue1737
Black Watch1739
Oxford blues1766
green linnets1793
Grenadiers1800
slashers1802
the Buffs1806
tartan1817
Gay Gordons1823
cheesemongers1824
Green Jacket1824
The Bays1837
RHA1837
dirty half-hundred1841
die-hard1844
lifeguard1849
cherry-picker1865
lancer-regiment1868
cheeses1877
Territorial Regiment1877
the Sweeps1879
dirty shirts1887
Scottish Rifles1888
shiner1891
Yorkshire1898
imperials1899
Irish guards1902
Hampshires1904
BEF1914
Old Contemptibles1915
contemptibles1917
Tank Corps1917
the Tins1918
skins1928
pioneer corps1939
red devils1943
Blues and Royals1968
U.D.R.1969
1806 Times 10 Jan. The band of the Old Buffs playing Rule Britannia, drums muffled.
1838 Hist. Record 3rd Regim. Foot 157 The Men's Coats were lined and faced with buff, they also wore buff waistcoats, buff breeches and buff stockings, and were emphatically styled the Buffs.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 295.
1883 Harper's Mag. Jan. 319/1 He entered the Buffs in 1817.
b. ‘An enthusiast about going to fires’ (Webster 1934); so called from the buff uniforms worn by volunteer firemen in New York City in former times. Hence gen., an enthusiast or specialist. Chiefly North American colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > learned person, scholar > [noun] > expert, specialist, authority
masterc1225
historian?a1439
authentic1613
scientiate1647
supernaturalist1659
authority1665
connoisseur1732
pundit1816
expert1825
specialist1839
past master1840
sharp1840
professional1846
beggar1859
specializer1868
passed master1882
buff1903
man1921
sharpshooter1942
sharpie1949
watcher1966
meister1975
1903 N.Y. Sun 4 Feb. iv. 2/1 The Buffs are men and boys whose love of fires, fire-fighting and firemen is a predominant characteristic.
1907 A. M. Downes Fire Fighters & Pets xiii. 159 The ‘buff’ is a private citizen who is a follower, friend, and devoted admirer of the firemen.
1931 E. H. Lavine Third Degree vi. 62 A dentist, known to many cops as a police buff (a person who likes to associate with members of the department and in exchange for having the run of the station house does various courtesies for the police).
1955 Sci. Amer. Aug. 88/3 No choo-choo buff can be without Sampson.
1962 Listener 1 Nov. 704/2 A neighbour of mine who is a hi-fi buff.
1963 Economist 20 July 244/2 The ‘Pugwash’ meetings between western and Russian scientists and other disarmament buffs.
1966 New Yorker 17 Sept. 130 For ballet buffs, Tuesday evening of last week was a great occasion.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 37 Sports buffs will enjoy many diversions, with bicycling and camping..heading the list.
7. Pathology. = buffy coat n. at buffy adj.1 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of blood > [noun] > coagulated blood > buffy coat
buff1739
size1771
buffy coat1800
buffed coat1835
crusta phlogistica1890
1739 J. Huxham Ess. Fevers (1750) 36 Blood..drawn off in high inflammatory Fevers..appears covered..with a thick glutinous coat, or Buff.
1782 Daniel in Med. Communications 1 22 (note) The blood was covered with a buff.
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 420/2 Louis found the blood covered by a firm thick buff at each bleeding in..cases of fatal peripneumony.
1880 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon (at cited word) Inflammatory Buff, the buffy coat of coagulated blood.
Compounds
C1.
a. buff accoutrements, belt; buff-hide, buff-skin; †buff-hard adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > [adjective] > very
iron-hardOE
bone?a1300
adamantinea1382
stony?1523
adamant1535
steel-harda1560
buff-hard1589
steely1596
diamantine1605
steela1607
rocked1610
Brazil1635
adamantean1671
osseousa1682
iron1708
ferreous1774
rock-likea1793
cast iron1886
bone-hard1924
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > leather > [noun] > leather from ox, cow, or buffalo
neat's leather?a1425
buff-leather1574
buff-hide1589
buff-skin1589
cowhide1728
robe1761
Grecian leather1852
crop1858
crop-leather1858
steerhide1921
1589 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 192 Good store of Buffe hides.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 200 His [sc. the rhinoceros'] more then buffe-hard-skinne.
1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 81 The Commodities of East-land, and thereabouts..Cables, Canuas, Buffe-hides.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Buff The Skin of this Animal [sc. the ‘Buffelo’] being dress'd in Oil..makes..Buff-skin.
1740 W. Somervile Hobbinol ii. 306 His Buff Doublet, larded o'er with Fat Of slaughter'd Brutes.
1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. I. iv. 133 Another cup furnished at bottom with a piece of buff-skin.
1813 Duke of Wellington Let. 28 Nov. in Dispatches (1838) XI. 334 Sets of buff accoutrements for the soldiers.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus i. vii. 16/2 The military classes in those old times, whose buff-belts, [and] complicated chains..have been bepainted in modern Romance.
b.
buff-faced adj.
ΚΠ
a1658 J. Cleveland May Day in Wks. (1687) 253 The buff-fac'd Sons of War.
C2. † buff-stop n. Obsolete a stop on a harpsichord or spinet which produces a muffled tone by applying pieces of leather to the strings.
buff-jerkin n. a military jerkin of buff-leather; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > jacket > worn by specific people > the military
buff-jerkin1598
shell1802
raggie1828
shell-jacket1840
fatigue-jacket1852
dolman1883
maternity jacket1925
maternity1958
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. ii. 42 Is not a buffe Jerkin a most sweet robe of durance? View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Elder Brother v. i. sig. H4v Among Provant swords, and buffe-jerkin men.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. i. 10 I had on me a Buff Jerkin, which they could not pierce.
buff-stick n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > polishing > [noun] > implement for polishing > implements for polishing metal
Flanders tilea1399
white brick1468
Flanders brick1651
scratch-brush1797
buff1831
Bath-brick1837
scratch card1839
buffer1854
rag wheel1869
bob1879
buff-stick1881
scratch-knot1905
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 250 The..gun is then buffed over with a leather buff stick.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > stringed keyboards > [noun] > harpsichord > stop
stop1730
buff-stopa1819
unison stop1830
a1819 J. Wolcot Wks. (1830) 122 Like the buff-stop on harpsichords or spinnets—Muffling their pretty little tuneful throats.
1880 A. J. Hipkins in G. Grove Dict. Music I. 691 A ‘buff’-stop of small pieces of leather, brought into contact with the strings, damping the tone.
buff-wheel n. a stick or wheel, covered with buff-leather or other soft material, used in polishing metal.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
† buffn.3
Obsolete. colloquial.
Fellow, ‘buffer’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [noun]
churla800
werec900
rinkeOE
wapmanc950
heOE
wyeOE
gomeOE
ledeOE
seggeOE
shalkOE
manOE
carmanlOE
mother bairnc1225
hemea1250
mother sona1250
hind1297
buck1303
mister mana1325
piecec1325
groomc1330
man of mouldc1330
hathela1350
sire1362
malea1382
fellowa1393
guestc1394
sergeant?a1400
tailarda1400
tulka1400
harlotc1405
mother's sona1470
frekea1475
her1488
masculinea1500
gentlemana1513
horse?a1513
mutton?a1513
merchant1549
child1551
dick1553
sorrya1555
knavea1556
dandiprat1556
cove1567
rat1571
manling1573
bird1575
stone-horse1580
loona1586
shaver1592
slave1592
copemate1593
tit1594
dog1597
hima1599
prick1598
dingle-dangle1605
jade1608
dildoa1616
Roger1631
Johnny1648
boy1651
cod1653
cully1676
son of a bitch1697
cull1698
feller1699
chap1704
buff1708
son of a gun1708
buffer1749
codger1750
Mr1753
he-man1758
fella1778
gilla1790
gloak1795
joker1811
gory1819
covey1821
chappie1822
Charley1825
hombre1832
brother-man1839
rooster1840
blokie1841
hoss1843
Joe1846
guy1847
plug1848
chal1851
rye1851
omee1859
bloke1861
guffin1862
gadgie1865
mug1865
kerel1873
stiff1882
snoozer1884
geezer1885
josser1886
dude1895
gazabo1896
jasper1896
prairie dog1897
sport1897
crow-eater1899
papa1903
gink1906
stud1909
scout1912
head1913
beezer1914
jeff1917
pisser1918
bimbo1919
bozo1920
gee1921
mush1936
rye mush1936
basher1942
okie1943
mugger1945
cat1946
ou1949
tess1952
oke1970
bra1974
muzhik1993
1708–15 J. Kersey Dict. Anglo-Britannicum Buff..a dull Sot, or dronish Fellow.
1709 Brit. Apollo 20–23 Apr. Tell me Grave Buffs, Partly Gods, partly Men.
1725 New Canting Dict. (at cited word) Buff, a Newgate Cant Word used in familiar Salutation: as, How dost do, my Buff?
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. iv. 20 May hap, old buff has left my kinsman here, his heir.
1764 T. Bridges Homer Travestie (1797) II. 420 You seem afraid these buffs will flinch.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
buffn.5
/bʌf/, U.S. /bəf/ A name given to the blindfold player in the game of blind-man's-buff n. shadow buff: a modern game in which one player has to guess the identity of the other players from seeing only their shadows.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > parlour and party games > [noun] > blind-man's-buff, etc. > blindfold person
belly-blind?a1500
buff1647
groper1813
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > parlour and party games > [noun] > blind-man's-buff, etc.
hoodman-blind1565
hoodwink1574
Hob-man blind1599
blind-man's-buff1600
bob and hit1611
Harry racket1611
blind-bob1783
bond-man-blind1783
jingling match1801
pawn party1831
blind-hob1834
shadow buff1879
Blind Tom1909
1647 R. Fanshawe tr. B. Guarini Pastor Fido (1676) 78 Behold the Buff [It. ecco la cieca].
1879 ‘L. Hoffmann’ Drawing-room Amusem. 9 Shadow Buff is a game of greater originality. The company now pass in succession before the light but behind Buff.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
buffn.6
colloquial.
1. = buffalo n.1 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > subfamily Bovinae (bovine) > [noun] > Bubalus bubalis (water buffalo)
buffle?c1510
buffalo1588
water-ox1615
ante1625
buffa1710
water buffalo1827
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > subfamily Bovinae (bovine) > [noun] > Syncercus caffer (Cape buffalo)
buffle?c1510
buffalo1699
buffa1710
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > subfamily Bovinae (bovine) > [noun] > genus Bison > Bison bison (bison)
buffalo1635
buffa1710
bison1774
boss1800
a1710 P.-E. Radisson Voy. (1885) 212 They have very handsome shoose laced very thick all over wth a peece sowen att the side of ye heele, wch was of a haire of Buff.
1884 Bismarck Tribune Aug. The ball struck the unsuspecting animal... But the old ‘buff’ took the fling as an insult.
1935 E. Hemingway Green Hills Afr. (1936) ii. iii. 98 I'd rather get another buff than rhino.
1935 E. Hemingway Green Hills Afr. (1936) ii. iii. 113 Where the rhinos and the buff had come out of the reeds.
1964 C. Willock Enormous Zoo ii. 24 When the buff was nearly up with him, the boy took off his hat and put it over the animal's eyes.
2. (With capital initial.) = buffalo n.1 1e.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > other specific associations or organizations > members of
steward1614
Tityre1648
hougher1712
sea-sergeant1744
Molly Maguire1867
Molly1877
buff1879
woodward1886
Downsman1924
lions1949
cruelty man1954
Muslim Brother1957
1879 The Buffalo 16 Jan. 3/3 The great scheme of a technical university now being taken up by the City companies, was first started by Buffs.
1888 C. Hindley True Hist. Tom & Jerry 162 Buffs—Buffaloes—and Buffaloism.—A society..established in August, 1822, by an eccentric young man of the name of Joseph Lisle, an artist, in conjunction with Mr. W. Sinnett, a comedian, to perpetuate, according to their ideas upon the subject, of that hitherto neglected ballad of We'll chase the Buffalo!
1897 Buffalo World Sept. 3/2 It should..be the aim of every loyal Buff..to show his desire to help on the cause for which we are fighting, viz. Progress and the Brotherhood of man.
1909 Daily Chron. 31 July 4/5 A..belief..that the ‘Buffs’, as it is generally called, originated at the Harp Tavern, in Russell-street, Drury-lane, in 1822.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
buffadj.1
/bʌf/, U.S. /bəf/ 1.
a. Of the nature or appearance of buff leather.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > leather > [adjective] > made of or relating to other types of leather
cheverel1515
cordovan1591
dog's-leather1611
dogskin1612
red leather1618
buffen1629
shagreen1677
buffa1706
undressed1808
patent leather1818
jacked1841
mocha1895
steerhide1921
a1706 Earl of Dorset Poems (1979) 38 This goodly goose..did overload Her bald buff forehead with a high commode.
b. figurative (from buff n.2 3). Naked, unrefined.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [adjective] > unsophisticated
plainc1425
homelyc1426
homespun1590
brown bread1606
unsophisticate1607
simple1613
uncompounded1615
uncourtlike1659
unsophisticated1665
russet-coated1683
buff1792
unvarnished1827
rube1898
cracker-barrel1933
haimish1957
bakya1960
1792 W. Roberts Looker-on No. 29. 226 On that plain buff principle of old English hospitality.
2. Of the colour of buff leather; a light brownish yellow.Early quots. are doubtful, and may mean the material.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > brownish yellow
ochry1567
olive-coloured1612
sand-coloured1627
shammy1661
buff-coloured1686
pea soup1703
ochreish1747
ochreous1761
buff1765
ochraceous1776
buff-colour1796
buffish1802
mustard-coloured1825
nankeen1838
buffy1842
ochre-coloured1845
mustardy1850
ochrous1877
buff-yellow1882
buff-washed1883
mustard1919
Sahara1923
wheaten1975
1765 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (ed. 2) III. i. 40 The dress is that of a Cavalier about the time of the civil war, buff with blue ribbands.
1791 J. Wolcot Ode to my Ass in Wks. (1812) II. 462 Buff breeches too have crown'd a proud proud day.
1804 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 12 512 Pileus brown buff, darker in the centre.
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 419/2 The buffed coat..is generally..of a light yellow or buff colour.
1876 M. E. Braddon Joshua Haggard's Daughter I. 108 The..old-fashioned Staffordshire tea service..blue flowers on a buff ground.
3. Substantival uses of this adjective are for convenience treated under buff n.2 III.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
buff-backed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Ciconiiformes (storks, etc.) > [adjective] > of particular form (of heron)
buff-backed1884
1884 J. Colborne With Hicks Pasha in Soudan 264 The pretty little buff-backed heron.
buff-colour adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > brownish yellow
ochry1567
olive-coloured1612
sand-coloured1627
shammy1661
buff-coloured1686
pea soup1703
ochreish1747
ochreous1761
buff1765
ochraceous1776
buff-colour1796
buffish1802
mustard-coloured1825
nankeen1838
buffy1842
ochre-coloured1845
mustardy1850
ochrous1877
buff-yellow1882
buff-washed1883
mustard1919
Sahara1923
wheaten1975
1796 J. G. Stedman Narr. Exped. Surinam II. xxiv. 213 The musk [melon]..is ribbed, buff color, orange and green.
buff-coloured adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > brownish yellow
ochry1567
olive-coloured1612
sand-coloured1627
shammy1661
buff-coloured1686
pea soup1703
ochreish1747
ochreous1761
buff1765
ochraceous1776
buff-colour1796
buffish1802
mustard-coloured1825
nankeen1838
buffy1842
ochre-coloured1845
mustardy1850
ochrous1877
buff-yellow1882
buff-washed1883
mustard1919
Sahara1923
wheaten1975
1686 London Gaz. No. 2106/4 A..Red Coat..with a Buff-colour'd lining.
1882 S. H. Vines tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. (ed. 2) 282 From dead plants [Fucaceæ] cold fresh-water extracts a buff-coloured substance.
buff-orange adj.
ΚΠ
1882 Garden 2 Sept. 202/1 A charming hardy Orchid..It is a buff-orange colour.
buff-washed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > brownish yellow
ochry1567
olive-coloured1612
sand-coloured1627
shammy1661
buff-coloured1686
pea soup1703
ochreish1747
ochreous1761
buff1765
ochraceous1776
buff-colour1796
buffish1802
mustard-coloured1825
nankeen1838
buffy1842
ochre-coloured1845
mustardy1850
ochrous1877
buff-yellow1882
buff-washed1883
mustard1919
Sahara1923
wheaten1975
1883 M. E. Braddon Golden Calf xii. 150 The walls plastered, and white-washed, or buff-washed.
buff-yellow adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > brownish yellow
ochry1567
olive-coloured1612
sand-coloured1627
shammy1661
buff-coloured1686
pea soup1703
ochreish1747
ochreous1761
buff1765
ochraceous1776
buff-colour1796
buffish1802
mustard-coloured1825
nankeen1838
buffy1842
ochre-coloured1845
mustardy1850
ochrous1877
buff-yellow1882
buff-washed1883
mustard1919
Sahara1923
wheaten1975
1882 Garden 5 Aug. 110/1 Seedling buff-yellow Carnation.
C2.
buff-breasted partridge n. of West Africa, Ptilopachus petrosus.
buff-tip n. a species of moth (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > unspecified and miscellaneous types > unspecified
paper-moth1699
arch1766
moth1802
nun1832
runic1832
vulture-feather1832
wormwood1832
buff-tip1836
1836 J. Duncan Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths (Naturalist's Libr.: Entomol. IV) 187 Pygæra Bucephala..named the Buff-tip Moth, on account of a large patch of that colour on the apex of the anterior wings.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
buffadj.2
/bʌf/, U.S. /bəf/ slang (originally U.S.)
Of a person (esp. a man) or their body: muscular, well-toned; physically attractive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [adjective]
stalworthc1175
thicka1250
stubblea1300
quarryc1300
stalworthyc1300
stoura1350
sturdyc1386
buirdlya1400
squarec1430
couragec1440
craskc1440
substantialc1460
ample1485
stalwart1508
puddinga1540
full-bodied1588
robust1666
two-handed1687
swankinga1704
strapping1707
broad-set1708
thick-set1724
throddy?1748
thick-bodied1752
broad-built1771
junky1825
swankie1838
stodgy1854
wide-bodied1854
beefish1882
hunky1911
buff1982
buffed1986
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective] > sexually attractive > of a man
tall, dark, and handsome1906
Valentino1934
buff1982
1982 M. Pond Valley Girls' Guide to Life 32 Well, dudes have got to be totally buf, first off, before you even talk to them.
1986 R. McCrum Story of Eng. (television transcript) in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 288 She was totally buff... Looking good.
1994 Esquire Sept. 170/3 It's hard to swallow the notion that a man in a three-piece suit is inherently sexier than a buff guy in jeans and T-shirt, muscles bulging.
2000 Sunday Tel. (Sydney) 18 June 88/1 [In] many films..he got naked and looked buff as a male model.
2009 J. Collins Poor Little Bitch Girl (2010) vi. 43 He's Latino, with a buff bod, smoky eyes, and a cocksure grin.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† buffv.1
Obsolete exc. dialect.
1. intransitive.
a. To speak with obstructed and explosive utterance, to stutter.
ΚΠ
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. 414 Of speche hastyf, Boffyng, & mest wanne he were in wraþþe.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ii. viii. 55 As I maye, though it be stamerynge and buffynge.
b. To explode or burst into a laugh, or the like.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > laugh [verb (intransitive)] > start laughing
buff1611
to burst out (on) a-laughing1711
to burst (out) into laughter1853
to burst out laughing1871
to fall about1918
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Esclaffer, to buff, or burst, out into a laughter.
1888 N.E.D. at Buff Mod. Sc. He buft out into a laugh.
2. transitive. To cause to burst out by sudden force.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out of [verb (transitive)] > suddenly or violently > cause to burst out suddenly or violently
buffa1637
a1637 B. Jonson Kings Entertainm. at Welbeck sig. Oo3 in Wks. (1640) III A shock, To have buff'd out the blood From ought but a block.
3. intransitive. To act and sound as a soft inflated substance does when struck, or as the body does which strikes it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > on something soft > act as a soft thing when struck
buff1568
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > non-resonance > become non-resonant [verb (intransitive)] > non-resonant impact sound > soft impact
buff1568
the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > without cutting (of a sharp instrument)
buff1881
1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 265 He hit him on the wame a wap It buft lyk ony bledder.
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) (at cited word) When an axe or hatchet strikes without cutting, which is sometimes the case..with unsound wood, it is said to ‘buff’.
4. intransitive and transitive. To strike a soft inflated body (with the characteristic effect and sound).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > on something soft
buffa1796
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
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 73 A chap will soundly buff our beef.
Derivatives
ˈbuffing n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > [noun] > stammer or stammering
stammering1357
wlafferinga1387
mammeringa1425
stuttingc1430
stackeringc1440
stotingc1440
tattling1481
staggering1565
manting1568
maffling1577
stuttering1595
buffing1600
stammeringness1637
titubation1641
balbuties1655
traulism1678
hesitation1709
hammering1731
hobbling1753
stammer1773
mant1801
stutter1843
Hottentotism1871
hesitatingness1890
1600 L. Lewkenor tr. A. de Torquemada Spanish Mandeuile f. 64v The furious buffing together of windes, when they meete.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
† buffv.2
Scottish. Obsolete.
transitive. ? To puff out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > tailor or make clothes [verb (transitive)] > make full or puff out
puffc1460
buff1573
blouse1934
1573 Sege Edinb. Cast. in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 294 That socht na tailzeours for to bufe thair breiks.
Derivatives
buft adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > having specific parts > ornamented or trimmed > puffed
buft1572
blistered1592
out-tuft1603
puffed1617
bouffant1880
bubble1910
bouffy1960
1572 Lament Lady Scot. in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 252 Buft brawlit hois, coit, dowblet, sark and scho.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
buffv.3
1. transitive.
a. To polish with a buff (frequent colloquial in the metal trades).
b. To impart the velvety surface usual in buff leather for belts, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > other processes
curry14..
shave1467
dress1511
slaughter1603
raise1607
scutch1688
chamois1728
braya1835
break1842
fellmonger1843
fire-cure1848
crimp1849
board1860
pebble1862
soft-board1878
sam1883
stock1883
nourish1884
buff1885
pinwheel1885
sammy1885
wheel1885
unlime1888
1885 Harper's Mag. Jan. 284/2 Sand-paper..‘buffs’ the grain of the leather, leaving it white and velvety.
2. To impart a buff colour to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > making yellow > make yellow [verb (transitive)] > make brownish yellow
buff1897
1897 C. F. S. Rothwell Printing Textile Fabrics 237 The pieces are to be ‘buffed’ or ‘slop-padded’ with substantive dyestuffs in solutions containing soap.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
buffv.4
/bʌf/, U.S. /bəf/ slang.
To swear to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assertion or affirmation > [verb (intransitive)] > swear or take an oath
sweara900
sacrec1380
oathc1450
bread and salt1575
to take one's davy1764
buff1819
1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. at Buff To buff to a person or thing, is to swear to the identity of them.
1865 Daily Tel. 27 Feb. 6/1 What robberies are you going to ‘buff’ to me..meaning ‘to charge me with, or accuse me of’.
1869 Morning Star 3 June They are going to send some one to ‘buff’ (own) it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
buffv.5
In phrase to buff it:
a. To play blindman's buff. Also figurative.Apparently an isolated use.
Π
1608 J. Day Humour out of Breath sig. G2v Blindmans buffe? I haue bufft it fairely, and mine owne gullery grieues me not halfe so much as the Dukes displeasure.
b. To stand firm, resist.Apparently an isolated use.
Π
a1811 R. Cumberland tr. Aristophanes Clouds in T. Mitchell tr. Aristophanes Comedies (1822) II. 84 Tuck yourself up, and buff it like a man.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
buffint.n.4
/bʌf/, U.S. /bəf/ A. int. In phrases.
a. †to say neither buff nor baff, not to say buff to a wolf's shadow (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)]
to hold one's tonguec897
to keep one's tonguec897
to be (hold oneself) stilla1000
to say littleOE
to hold one's mouthc1175
to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175
to keep (one's) silence?c1225
to hold (also have, keep) one's peacea1275
stillc1330
peacec1395
mum1440
to say neither buff nor baff1481
to keep (also play) mum1532
to charm the tonguec1540
to have (also set, keep) a hatch before the door1546
hush1548
to play (at) mumbudgeta1564
not to say buff to a wolf's shadow1590
to keep a still tongue in one's head1729
to sing small1738
to sew up1785
let that fly stick in (or to) the wall1814
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye1824
to choke back1844
mumchance1854
to keep one's trap shut1899
to choke up1907
to belt up1949
to keep (or stay) shtum1958
shtum1958
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 99 He wyste not what to saye buff ne baff.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 11v A certain persone, beeyng of him bidden good speede, saied to hym again neither buff ne baff.
1581 N. Burne Disput. Headdis of Relig. 128 b (Jam.) Johann Kmnox ansuerit maist resolutlie, buf, baf, man.
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. C4v These toong-tide Curs, that cannot barke, nor say buffe to a woulfes shadow.
b. to say (also know) neither buff nor stye (Scottish): i.e. neither one thing nor another, nothing at all.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > be ignorant [phrase] > know nothing
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye?a1750
to know little (or nothing) and care less1783
not to know beans1833
not to have the remotest1864
(not) to know from nothing1933
not to know shit from Shinolaa1948
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)]
to hold one's tonguec897
to keep one's tonguec897
to be (hold oneself) stilla1000
to say littleOE
to hold one's mouthc1175
to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175
to keep (one's) silence?c1225
to hold (also have, keep) one's peacea1275
stillc1330
peacec1395
mum1440
to say neither buff nor baff1481
to keep (also play) mum1532
to charm the tonguec1540
to have (also set, keep) a hatch before the door1546
hush1548
to play (at) mumbudgeta1564
not to say buff to a wolf's shadow1590
to keep a still tongue in one's head1729
to sing small1738
to sew up1785
let that fly stick in (or to) the wall1814
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye1824
to choke back1844
mumchance1854
to keep one's trap shut1899
to choke up1907
to belt up1949
to keep (or stay) shtum1958
shtum1958
?a1750 Jacobite Relics I. 80 (Jam.) Who knew not what was right or wrong, And neither buff nor sty, sir.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet II. xii. 274 ‘What say you to that?’..‘I say neither buff nor stye to it’.
B. n.4
Scottish. (Perhaps not connected with A.) ‘Nonsense, foolish talk’ (Jamieson).
ΚΠ
1721 A. Ramsay Addr. to Town Council 23 It blather'd buff before them a', And aftentimes turn'd doited.
1739 A. Nicol Poems 84 (Jam.) Nae great ferly tho' it be Plain buff..I'm no book-lear'd.
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 338 (Jam.) It only gi'es him pain To read sic buff.
1801 W. Beattie Fruits of Time Parings 3 Read;—but should you think it buff, Throw't out o' sight.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.1c1475
n.21552n.31708
n.51647n.6a1710adj.11686adj.21982
v.11297v.21572v.31885v.41819v.51608int.n.41481